2009 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2008 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2007 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

28 October

• The Director-General opens the Forum “Responding to the challenges of climate change - the construction of a green society at the global level”
  The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, opened, on 26 October 2009, at UNESCO Headquarters, the sixth edition of the Forum of the Future, dedicated to the challenges of climate change and the construction of a “green society” at global level. The main lecturers were Mrs Laurence Tubiana, Director of the Institute for sustainable development and international relations (IDDRI) and Mr. Mario Amano,Assistant Secretary-General of the OECD.
  More information in French: http://portal.unesco.org/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=46805&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

23 October

• Director-General launches World Report on Cultural Diversity
  On 20 October 2009, in the margins of the 35th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, the Organization’s Director-General, launched the UNESCO World Report, Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue. The Director-General elect, Madam Irina Bokova, was also present at the launch, along with Mr Marcio Barbosa, the Deputy Director-General, Madam Françoise Riviere, Assistant Director-General for Culture, Mr Jean-Pierre Guingané, a Member of the Advisory Committee for the World Report, and Prof Will Kymlicka, whose paper, ‘The rise and fall of multiculturalism? New debates on inclusion and diversity in human development’ had contributed to the Report’s preparation.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46778&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

22 October

• The world pays tribute to Koïchiro Matsuura as he ends his term as Director-General of UNESCO
  The international community today paid tribute to Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, in a moving ceremony that featured performers from different regions of the world. The ceremony was held as part of the 35th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, as Mr Matsuura approaches the end of his second term in office on 14 November. The General Conference adopted a resolution (35C/PLENDR.3*) recognizing the success of Mr Matsuura’s work at the helm of UNESCO. The President of UNESCO’s General Conference, Davidson Hepburn, and the Chairman of the Executive Board, Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, opened the ceremony with words about the excellent relations Mr Matsuura entertained with their two governing bodies.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46758&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

20 October

• Director-General meets with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries
  On 9 October 2009, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, met with ministers and delegates from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries attending the 35th session of UNESCO’s General Conference. The group was led by Mr Ronald Jones, the Barbados Minister of Education and Human Resources Development.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46767&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

19 October

• Director-General meets Kirsty Sword Gusmão, Chairperson of the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO
  On 14 October 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, received Ms Kirsty Sword Gusmão at UNESCO Headquarters. Ms Kirsty Sword Gusmão is the wife of the first President of Timor-Leste, Mr Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and current Prime Minister of the country. She established the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO, which she also chairs.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46768&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Director-General pays tribute and awards Avicenna Medal to Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain
  On 12 October 2009, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Davidson Hepburn, President of the 35th session of the General Conference, and Mr Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, Chairman of the Executive Board, received the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, on the occasion of the 35th session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46705&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

8 October

• The President of Montenegro pays a visit to UNESCO at the opening of the 35th session of the General Conference
  On 6 October 2009, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, Mr George Anastassopoulos, President of the 34th session of the General Conference, and Mr Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, Chairman of the Executive Board, received Mr Filip Vujanovic, President of the Republic of Montenegro, at UNESCO.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46602&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Inauguration of the Exhibition “Cultures and development” by the Director-General and the Governor-general of Canada
  On the occasion of the official visit of the Governor-general of Canada, Mrs Michaëlle Jean, to UNESCO Headquarters, on 5 October 2009, to participate in a special session of the Council, Mrs Jean and the Director-General inaugurated the exhibition “Cultures and developments”, presented within the framework of the 35th session of the Conference.
  More information in French: http://portal.unesco.org/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=46594&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• The Director-General receives the Certificate of Merit from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
  On 5 October 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, was awarded with a “Bang Khen” (certificate of merit), by the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in recognition of his pivotal role in strengthening the cooperation between UNESCO and Viet Nam.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46593&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Director-General opens Symposium of the UNESCO General and Regional Histories
  On 5 October 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura opened a two-day symposium on the UNESCO General and Regional Histories at the Organization’s Headquarters in Paris. The symposium, organized on the eve of the 35th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, celebrated the impending completion of the project to develop a History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Humanity launched in 1952.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46587&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

5 October

• First inscriptions to the Representative List of the ICH and the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
  On Friday 2 October, 2009, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, addressed Members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage, at their fourth session in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the chairmanship of Dr Awad Ali Saleh Al Musabi. In extending his congratulations to the States Parties whose elements had been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, as well as to the countries whose safeguarding practices had been inscribed on the register of good practices established under the Convention, he noted that “it has been an historic and emotional meeting.”
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46549&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html