15 August, 2011.
The resident representative of UNESCO in the Pacific, also the Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States, Apia, Dr. Visesio Pongi, was in the country last week, August 6th-12th, to pay a courtesy call on the new government of Lord Tu'ivakano, after the Kingdom of Tonga made the transition to a more pluralistic form of government last year.
Dr. Pongi said it is common practice for the UNESCO representative in the Pacific to visit a country within its jurisdiction when there has been a change in government in that country.
Unlike earlier visits to Tonga where he was providing expert and professional input to policy formulation and strategic planning issues, Dr. Pongi said that this time his role is more of a diplomatic nature, whereby he conveys UNESCO's best wishes to the new administration, and exchange views with the new leadership on the role and mission of UNESCO in the Pacific and in the world.
On Monday, 12th August, Dr. Pongi had a meeting for over an hour with the Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Tu'ivakano, where they discussed various issues that are within UNESCO's mandate, and which are associated with UNESCO projects and conventions in Tonga.
Dr. Pongi also had a meeting with the Hon. Minister for Education, Women's Affairs and Culture and also President of the UNESCO National Commission of Tonga, Dr. 'Ana Maui Taufe'ulungaki.
Reflecting the broad range of issues that UNESCO covers within its remit, Dr. Pongi, in addition, saw Ministers and various Heads of Departments that included those from the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports and the National Disaster Management Office.
Outside of the executive branch, Dr. Pongi also met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Tonga, Lord Lasike, as well as the leaders of the UNDP office in Tonga, the Civil Society Forum of Tonga and the General Manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Dr. Pongi said that people may be familiar with UNESCO programs and activities in Tonga and perhaps in the region, but there is a lack of knowledge of what UNESCO stands for, and what is the ultimate aim of UNESCO as an organization.
Ultimately, according to the UNESCO representative to the Pacific, UNESCO is an organisation that works for peace between peoples and cultures.
UNESCO as a part of the United Nations, emerged out of the ashes of two horrific World Wars, and the destruction and suffering those events inflicted on all mankind.
According to Dr. Pongi, that in order to prevent future global wars, UNESCO attempts to fight the problem at its root cause. In the preamble to its Constitution, UNESCO states, "Since Wars begin in the Minds of Men, it is in the Minds of Men that the Defences of Peace must be constructed".
The activities of UNESCO must be understood in the context of its work towards peace, human rights, freedom of expression and other values that give a human being equality, respect and dignity.
UNESCO, through its various activities in Education, Natural Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information is constructing a framework for peace and understanding.
"That is why Intercultural Dialogue, and cultural tolerance is so important", Dr. Pongi said. "It is much preferred that the door is always kept open for dialogue. UNESCO from time to time hosts dialogues and exchanges between cultures and creeds, and is increasingly involved in settling disputes and conflicts throughout the world".
Dr. Pongi stressed however that UNESCO is not a political entity and does not make pronouncements or pontificates on political issues and events.
The organisation, furthermore, is not a funding agency, but works with member countries to identify resources to support programs and priorities that the countries themselves have formulated and submitted for assistance.
The visit by the Resident Respresentative for UNESCO in the Pacific was covered widely in the media, being highlighted during the evening news, in addition to two half hour interviews that were broadcasted and one being replayed on Radio and Television Tonga.
Dr. Visesio Pongi returned to Apia last Friday.
ENDS.
Issued by the: Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and Culture, Nuku'alofa, 2011. Article by Sitiveni Finau. www.tongaeducation.gov.to
