UNESCO BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS APPOINTMENT OF NEW DG From Leslean Arshad

PARIS, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The selection process for the appointment of a
new
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco)
director-general is on the cards.

Fifty-eight Unesco executive board members will discuss the selection when
they meet here over the next few days, beginning Monday.

Current Unesco Director-General Koichiro Matsuura's term is expected to end
in October next year.

Malaysia's Permanent Delegate to Unesco Kenneth J. Luis said the board
members would discuss the procedures of appointing the new director-general
(DG).

He said it was vital that the new director-general continue to carry the
agendas currently pursued by Matsuura who had given strong emphasis on education
for all (EFA), gender equity and culture diversity.

"It is very important...whoever is appointed as the DG must be seen
carrying
the same mandate as the current one. We cannot be having a new direction," he
told Bernama here Sunday.

Malaysia will be represented by Education Minister Hishammuddin
Tun Hussein at the meeting.

Hishamuddin was elected to Unesco's executive board after receiving 147
votes in the Asia-Pacific group at the organisation's 34th general conference in
October last year.

Malaysia's preparation for the meeting has reached top gear as
Hishammuddin is scheduled to deliver a speech at the meeting.

Hishammuddin, who is also Southeast Asian Ministers of Education
Organisation (Seameo) president, has been mandated with an extra "two minutes"
by board members of Thailand and the Philippines to deliver a message pertaining
to regional interests.

Luis said Malaysia's participation in Unesco, via Hishammuddin's
representation, gave the country an opportunity to partake in key issues
internationally, especially in the field of education.

He said the meeting would also review the Unesco director-general's
report on the implementation of the world body's first quarter programmes and
achievements.

"We need to see how the money was spent and the impact on activities," he
said.

Malaysian Ambassador to France S. Thanarajasingam said Hishammuddin's
presence at the meeting would enable Malaysia's views to be heard better.

"Certainly, more impact and effective when the minister makes a point
himself, rather than somebody reading his speech," he said.