Arjun Leaves Tonight For UNESCO Paris Plenary

New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh leaves tonight for France to lead the Indian delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's 34th General Conference opening at Paris tomorrow, officials said.

The biennial Conference is scheduled from October 16 to November 3.

Singh will return on October 21 after participating in its Plenary and General Policy Debate scheduled for October 16-20.

The HRD Minister will speak in the Debate in the afternoon on October 19 and address a Ministerial Round Table the same day on 'The Right To Education And The Right To Development.' The Indian Minister will have bilateral meetings with counterparts from Afghanistan, Belgium, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal and South Africa.

Singh will host a reception on October 17 for key participants of the Conference and a lunch in honour of UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura on October 20.

The main agenda of the Conference is to consider and approve the UNESCO's Draft Programme and Budget for 2008-09 and Draft Medium Term Strategy for 2008-13.

It also includes: -- Matsuura's Report on Education For All; -- Draft of a declaration of principles on cultural objects displaced in connection with the Second World War; -- A consolidated report on steps taken by governments to implement the recommendations on promoting multilingualism and access to cyberspace; -- Enhancing protection of cultural objects through the fight against their illicit trafficking and developing museums in poor countries; and -- Elections to various UNESCO committees and bodies.

UNI