31 июля 2000 г. в Библиотеке состоялось открытие Центра информации о ЮНЕСКО. На церемонии открытия присутствовали Генеральный директор ЮНЕСКО Коитиро Мацуура, генеральный директор ВГБИЛ Екатерина Гениева, Председатель Комиссии РФ по делам ЮНЕСКО Владимир Фортов, Чрезвычайный Посол, Постоянный представитель России в ЮНЕСКО Евгений Сидоров, директор Московского бюро ЮНЕСКО Вольфганг Ройтер, министр промышленности, науки и технологий РФ Александр Дондуков, заместитель руководителя Департамента культурного наследия Министерства культуры Евгений Кузьмин, сотрудники Министерства иностранных дел, представители других государственных и общественных организаций, пресса.
 

NED/DG/2000/41

Madam Director-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

      It is a real pleasure for me to inaugurate this UNESCO Centre on the premises of the Russian State Library for Foreign Literature. I thank you personally, Madam, for taking this initiative to create a special Centre that will serve to provide information about UNESCO’s activities - an initiative that the Organization has of course been happy to encourage and support. I also thank all your colleagues who, through their dedication and professionalism, have made it possible in such a short time.

      I know, Madam, that your Library has been playing a leading part in opening up the world to Russia and has already achieved fruitful cooperation with other organizations and institutions, including the Council of Europe and the French Cultural Centre. You have succeeded, in a time of change and transition in your country, not only in maintaining high standards in your institution but also in setting an example for others to follow. I am therefore confident that the UNESCO Resource Centre, the latest addition to the services offered by your Library, will grow and prosper.

      A major part of UNESCO’s work is devoted to the development and promotion of intellectual cooperation in its four fields of competence - education, science, culture and communication. The usefulness and relevance of this work would, however, be sadly reduced if it were not made available and accessible to the largest possible number of users in an increasingly decentralized and complex world. UNESCO has for this reason always been particularly supportive of libraries which are gateways to knowledge that must be open to all, and will continue to do all it can to help Russian libraries in their modernization process. Our new programme “Information for All” is a prime means to this end.

      Within its field of competence, the Organization has much to share. It is our hope that, with the good will and efforts of everyone, this new Centre, in close cooperation with the UNESCO Moscow Office and the National Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, will become an important tool for sharing with your scholars, scientists and students the knowledge and experience resulting from UNESCO’s numerous activities.

      This, Madam, is my sincere wish. You can count on the Organization’s and my personal support in carrying out this additional task which, I am confident, will also be instrumental in promoting the Open Society to which we all aspire.