Application of decision on educational and cultural institutions in the OATs – UNESCO summary

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Hundred and sixty-sixth Session

166 EX/40

PARIS, 13 March 2003

Original: English/French

Item 10.1 of the provisional agenda

APPLICATION OF 165 EX/DECISION 10.2 CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL

AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. THE SIX MISSIONS DISPATCHED BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO THE REGION

INTERSECTORAL MISSION LED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES (7-15 DECEMBER 2002): OBJECTIVES SET AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

A. Objectives of the mission

B. Make-up of the delegation and programmes followed

C. The visit to Israel

Meetings with bridge-builders

Outcome of the meetings with the bridge-builders

Meetings with government representatives and outcome

End-of-mission debriefing with the Israeli authorities

D. The visit to the Palestinian Territories

Meetings with heads of government and cabinet ministers

Outcome of meetings with government

Meetings with civil and political leaders and outcome

E. New commitments made to bridge-building activities between Palestinians and Israelis at the conclusion of discussions held during the mission

F. Overall assessment of the mission in education

G. Overall assessment of the mission in culture

H. Meeting with some donors

I. Working sessions with the heads of three United Nations agencies

THE FIVE MISSIONS CARRIED OUT BY PROGRAMME SECTORS:  OBJECTIVES SET AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

A. Missions sent by the Culture Sector to the Palestinian Territories

B. Follow-up mission by the Communication and Information Sector

III. CURRENT STATUS OF THE 21 ACTIVITIES SELECTED UNDER THE “CARRY-OVER” FUNDS OF $1,135,000 FOR “RECONSTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROMOTING RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS” (164 EX/DECISION 6.2)

IV. PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SOME 55 PALESTINIAN STUDENTS DURING THE 2002-2003 BIENNIUM

V. FIRST MEASURES TAKEN TO ENACT DECISION 26 COM 6.1 OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE (BUDAPEST, 24-29 JUNE 2002)

VI. NEW MEASURES TAKEN TO REINFORCE THE UNESCO OFFICE IN RAMALLAH

A. Two new professionals from Headquarters and training of local staff

B. More functional premises

VII. CONCLUSION

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I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 29 January 2003, the Director-General convened an information meeting of Permanent Delegates to UNESCO on the Organization’s action in the Middle East where the guest of honour was Mr Terje Roed-Larsen, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. While applauding the current efforts deployed by the international community to reach a comprehensive peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, the Director-General and the Special Coordinator acknowledged, and deplored, the suffering and despair prevailing on the ground as well as the dramatically deteriorating economic situation. For some two and a half years now, these circumstances have constituted the backdrop of all UNESCO’s efforts towards reconstruction and reconciliation in the region. Even though it has proven to be an arduous task, some measure of success has been achieved, especially since the establishment last May of the Task Force on Reconstruction and Reconciliation in the Middle East, chaired by the Director-General himself. This intersectoral structure, which held its third meeting in November 2002, has given a renewed focus to the region and placed its preoccupations at the very heart of the Organization’s agenda. The most telling manifestation of this new drive is the Director-General’s proposal to develop even more decidedly UNESCO’s strategy in favour of the Middle East if his financial scenario based on a budget ceiling of US $610 million for the 2004-2005 biennium is adopted by the Member States.

2. This document will address the noticeable progress made in implementing 165 EX/Decision 10.2 since the last session of the Executive Board, some four months ago at the time of writing. The following will be addressed:

(a) The six missions dispatched by the Director-General to the region: the intersectoral one led by the Deputy Director-General from 7 to 15 December 2002 and the five sectoral ones in culture and communication, outlining results achieved (including new financial commitments made) and difficulties met;

(b) The current status of the 21 activities selected under the “carry-over” funds of $1,135,000 for “Reconstruction of Palestinian educational and cultural infrastructure and promoting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians” (164 EX/Decision 6.2);

(c) Progress achieved in providing financial assistance to some 55 Palestinian students during the 2002-2003 biennium;

(d) First measures taken to enact Decision 26 COM 6.1 of the World Heritage Committee;

(e) New measures taken to reinforce the UNESCO Office in Ramallah;

(f) The way ahead.

II. THE SIX MISSIONS DISPATCHED BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO THE REGION

INTERSECTORAL MISSION LED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES (7-15 DECEMBER 2002): OBJECTIVES SET AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

A. Objectives of the mission

3. As agreed with both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, the objectives of this mission were:

(a) Review the status of projects benefiting from the “carry-over” funds earmarked by the 164th session of the Executive Board for “Reconstruction of Palestinian educational and cultural infrastructure and promoting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians” (at the time the mission left, the selection of projects had not been finalized);

(b) Witness first-hand the situation of some of the educational, cultural, scientific and communication institutions in the Palestinian Territories, with a view to reconstruction, reinforcement, and knowledge transfer and sharing between Israelis and Palestinians;

(c) Meet urgent needs in the Palestinian Territories;

(d) Initiate the planning of Phase IV of the UNESCO Programme for Palestine (UPP) by identifying short- and medium-term projects for implementation, including approaching donors in this regard;

(e) Identify partners within Israel and the Palestinian Territories able and willing to pursue and/or reinitiate dialogue and reconciliation activities and explore with them modalities for long-term partnerships with UNESCO;

(f) Identify dialogue and reconciliation activities worthy of UNESCO support, both intellectual and financial.

B. Make-up of the delegation and programmes followed

4. The delegation led by the Deputy Director-General was composed, including himself, of eight persons:  the Deputy Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation (whose report on her mission to the region in September 2002 was included in document 165 EX/43 Add.); the Director of the Division of Educational Policies and Strategies; the Director of the Division for the Promotion of Quality Education; the Director of the UNESCO/UNRWA Department of Education, based in Amman; a programme specialist in education (now posted in Ramallah); an Italian architect acting as a consultant to the UNESCO Office in Ramallah; and the head of the UNESCO Office in Ramallah.

5. The programmes for the mission were prepared in close cooperation with the Permanent Delegate of Israel to UNESCO who worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Observer of Palestine to UNESCO who consulted throughout the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture, and the UNESCO Office in Ramallah. The Director-General should like to express his heartfelt thanks to all, and most especially to the Secretary-General of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Observer of Palestine to UNESCO who accompanied the delegation, thus allowing it to benefit from their intimate knowledge of their respective constituencies and their understanding of the issues at hand.

6. For the sake of efficiency, the delegation was split in two at the beginning of the mission, with some members working in Israel (the Deputy Director-General; the Deputy Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation; and the Director of the Division for the Promotion of Quality Education) while the others carried out their duties in the Palestinian Territories. The full delegation spent the last four days of the mission together in the Palestinian Territories.  

C. The visit to Israel

Meetings with bridge-builders

7. During its three-day stay in Israel, the delegation focused its energies on identifying actors – either individuals or organizations – engaged on a daily basis in addressing both levels of the reconciliatory process there: inward, between Arabs and Jews within Israel, and outward, between Israelis and Palestinians. In some cases, contacts had been initiated in September 2002 when the Deputy Assistant Director-General for External Affairs and Cooperation first visited there.

8. This dual and simultaneous approach to dialogue and peace was recognized by the Organization when some “carry-over” funds were attributed to the Citizen’s Accord Forum between Jews and Arabs in Israel, located in Jaffa and where the delegation saw many of the 2,500 children and adults carrying out their daily studies and activities together and heard of the 600 Arab and Jewish journalists who had just established a common press club. The delegation was also informed of the 80 organizations constituting the “Network of the Jewish-Arab Coexistence Organizations in Israel” and witnessed a PowerPoint presentation on this initiative. Consideration was given at granting access to this institution’s website through UNESCO’s home page.

9. In order to witness first-hand similar initiatives, meetings were also held with the leaders of: the Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development (initiated by the “Interns for Peace” and located in Herzliya Pituach) which aims at “economic reconciliation” by trying to close the economic gap between the two communities by, for instance, empowering Arab women to reach economic autonomy through establishing businesses; Hand in Hand: the Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel, with a school in Jerusalem and the other in Galilee, where children from kindergarten onwards are taught simultaneously in Hebrew and in Arabic by two teachers and where all historical events and religious holidays are taught and observed by all children; the University of Haifa, where Arab student enrolment is over 20%; and two UNESCO Associated High Schools from Kfar Saba (a Jewish city) and Tira (an Arab city) which got together for the delegation in Kfar Saba, with the teachers, students and parents movingly explaining the dilemmas they face within the current climate.

10. As for those cooperating regularly with Palestinians in spite of the inauspicious times, key meetings were held with: the Peres Center for Peace (Tel Aviv); the Jewish-Arab Centre for Peace (Givat Haviva), winner of the 2001 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education; the School of Pediatric Wards at the Hadassah Medical Center (Jerusalem) which provides medical and in-hospital schooling to Israeli Jews and Arabs, as well as to Palestinian children; the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, twinned with the Palestinian International Peace and Cooperation Centre (IPCC), also based in Jerusalem; and the International Centre for the Study of Bird Migration (Latrun).

Outcome of the meetings with the bridge-builders

11. Modalities for long-term partnerships with UNESCO were discussed during each meeting (e.g. granting the use of the UNESCO logo; obtaining the “UNESCO Associated School” or “UNESCO Centre” status; serving as a model for UNESCO programmes) and numerous well-prepared proposals for financing were submitted to the delegation. Both the modalities envisaged and submissions received are being given careful consideration. As described further on, some funds were allocated to especially worthy projects discussed in situ.

Meetings with government representatives and outcome

12. Working meetings were held on three occasions with the Israeli authorities who hosted the delegation: upon arrival; during a luncheon on the third day of the mission; and after the mission to the Palestinian Territories had ended. During the large gathering over lunch, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation interacted with: the Deputy Director-General of the sector responsible for relations with the United Nations and international organizations; the Director of the Department of International Organizations; the Director of the Department of Cultural and Scientific Cooperation; the Director of the Department of Policy Planning and External Affairs; and the Director of the Division of Palestinian Affairs, all of whom are senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Education was represented by the Senior Adviser to the Minister of Education and the Chair of her pedagogic secretariat, both of whom are also members of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO.

13. A number of topics were broached and, more specifically, discussions were held on some of the confidence-building measures UNESCO was proposing to implement between Israelis and Palestinians. These initiatives met with the support of the authorities and approval was given to the proposed joint meeting of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture, their first opportunity to cooperate in close to three years. This encounter will be organized by the Deputy Director-General and the Deputy Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation.

14. On a separate occasion, the delegation had a fruitful exchange with Israel’s Chief Scientist and Head of the Directorate of Science at the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport. Scientific exchanges with Palestinian academics and researchers as well as knowledge sharing and transfer were addressed, with the agreement that negotiations in this regard would be pursued soon thereafter. The Chief Scientist is also a member of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO.

End-of-mission debriefing with the Israeli authorities

15. The delegation was grateful for the opportunity to meet with several representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel after its stay in the Palestinian Territories. Three particular matters were addressed by the Deputy Director-General: the lack of access to schools by children, especially the young ones, who pose no clear security threats to Israel; the need to respect and preserve Palestinian cultural heritage and sites (the then current threat to 22 Mameluk and Ottoman houses in the Old City of Hebron was highlighted); and the need to improve cooperation with the UNESCO Office in Ramallah and devise facilitation mechanisms between the Ministry and the Office. The delegation expressed its appreciation for the attentive hearing given by the Israeli authorities to the issues raised.

D. The visit to the Palestinian Territories

16. During its four-day sojourn in the Palestinian Territories, the mission travelled to: Ramallah, Nablus (where, at the request of the delegation, the Israeli authorities allowed the mission to enter the city, in spite of the curfew), Hebron and Gaza. A 24-hour curfew prevented the mission to reach Bethlehem where meetings had been scheduled.

Meetings with heads of government and cabinet ministers

17. The government authorities who greeted the delegation in Ramallah and Gaza were:

(a) The Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat, who, after chairing a working meeting in the Mukata, hosted a luncheon in honour of UNESCO, attended by Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo, Minister of Information and Culture and President of the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture; Mr Naim Abu El Hommos, Minister of Education and Higher Education; and Mr Saeb Erakat, Minister of Local Governance. The session concluded with a press conference where both Chairman Arafat and the Deputy Director-General gave interviews which received extensive press coverage from both the written press and television, including CNN.

(b) The Minister of Information and Culture and President of the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture, Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo, who hosted the delegation on two occasions: at his office in Ramallah, with several of his collaborators present and during a working session on the premises of the Palestinian Committee, attended by, among others, the Secretary-General of the Committee, the Minister of Education and Higher Education and the Director of the Department of United Nations and International Organizations in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

(c) The Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr Naim Abu El Hommos, with whom a contract was signed for $230,000 to provide a better learning environment for 460 schools in the West Bank and Gaza. A meeting was also held in Gaza with the Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr Abdallah Abdel Monem, who introduced the delegation to some of his newly appointed senior colleagues and raised some pressing issues facing the education system in Gaza.

(d) The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr Nabil Qassis, accompanied by his Director-General for Antiquities and Director-General for Cultural Heritage. The need to make the Palestinian people aware of their cultural heritage and the importance of restoring and preserving it was stressed. Training is also critical, with universities having to reinforce their academic training in those areas. Developing legislation based on international law and standards is a current preoccupation where UNESCO’s savoir faire is being sought.

(e) The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mr Nabeel A. Shaath, who offered to approach donors himself, once deserving projects have been identified through the Joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Coordinating Committee scheduled to meet in the first half of 2003.

Outcome of meetings with government

18. Many issues were discussed with these decision-makers and agreement was reached on the following:

(a) Phase IV of the UNESCO Programme for Palestine (UPP) would be developed during the first half of 2003. Areas needing particular attention would be determined after consultation with the Palestinian Authority. Some of the priority areas discussed during the mission would be considered within that framework.

(b) A meeting of the Joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Coordinating Committee would be convened once projects to be included in Phase IV were determined. Examination of and agreement on selected projects would be carried out within that context.

(c) Upon the proposal of the Minister of Information and Culture of the Palestinian Authority and President of the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture, help convene in the United Arab Emirates a meeting of Arab and European donors, to secure funds for projects approved under Phase IV of the UNESCO Programme for Palestine (UPP) by the Joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Coordinating Committee.

(d) The UNESCO Office in Ramallah would be strengthened immediately.

(e) A joint meeting of the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture and the Israel National Commission for UNESCO will be convened under the auspices of UNESCO.

(f) The Palestinian Authority will provide support and the necessary facilities to Palestinian individuals and organizations wishing to participate in projects leading to dialogue, reconciliation and peace with the Israelis.

Meetings with civil and political leaders and outcome

19. Contacts were also established with a number of prominent Palestinians who are active in the areas of competence of UNESCO and most notably:

(a) The Presidents of Al Azhar University and the Islamic University. The Deputy Director-General signed a contract for $60,000 with the President of Al Azhar University in Gaza to set up a local area network of computers. The tendering process was initiated shortly afterwards and should be concluded in mid-February 2003.

(b) The Mayor of Nablus who was preparing to visit Europe to meet some mayors from Israeli cities with whom he has frequent and open dealings. The Deputy Director-General confirmed that $100,000 had been committed for some restoration work of the Old City. The delegation had a brief tour of the Old City and saw the “UNESCO Place” at its very centre as well as the remains of the caravansérail to be restored with UNESCO technical assistance and about which more information may be found later on in this report.

(c) The President and members of the Rehabilitation Committee of the Old City of Hebron who shared with the delegation their fear of seeing some 20 Mameluk and Ottoman houses destroyed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). As stated earlier, the delegation raised this serious concern with the Israeli authorities just before leaving the country. At that time, the Israel Supreme Court was expected to rule on the matter within days. The ruling was actually issued on the evening of 13 February 2003. On 14 February 2003, the Director-General issued a press communiqué broadcast the world over and entitled “UNESCO Director-General welcomes Israel Supreme Court decision to save historical houses in the Old City of Hebron”. As the depositary of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, UNESCO will remain vigilant as this matter is expected to return to the Supreme Court. Even though the curfew in the Old City of Hebron prevented the delegation to enter, the Old City could be seen from afar.

(d) The Director of the Multipurpose Community Resource Center (MCRC) situated in the Old City of Nablus. Established by UNESCO some five years ago, the centre caters to the needs of poor women and children by providing education and job training for drop-outs, particularly in the construction business. In spite of the difficulties on the ground, the centre has been continuously operational. In recognition of these efforts, and as the MCRC is viewed as a means of providing autonomy and dignity to the most vulnerable, it has been decided to increase the allocation to the centre this year. The centre has also been asked to draw up medium- and long-term plans for sustained funding. Centres based on this model could be established in other agglomerations. The Palestinian Authority may consider making this proposal to UNESCO when the planning of Phase IV of the UNESCO Programme for Palestine is under way.

(e) The Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine News Agency (WAFA) who gave a tour of the newsroom in the main offices in Gaza. Since then, a follow-up mission from the Communication and Information Sector has visited WAFA, bringing with it three independent international experts who have carried out a comprehensive evaluation of WAFA, including a review of some procurement equipment.

E. New commitments made to bridge-building activities between Palestinians and Israelis at the conclusion of discussions held during the mission

20. Following these encounters, and on the basis of projects submitted to the mission, financial commitments were made for the following new activities, to be implemented by September 2003:

(a) $40,000 for the first joint meeting in close to three years of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture to be held at UNESCO Headquarters and including some 20 participants (10 from each body).

(b) $30,000 to encourage UNESCO Associated Schools in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to elaborate projects which they can carry out in partnership. Considering the number of Associated Schools in Israel (23) and in the Palestinian Territories (38), $10,000 were awarded to the former and $20,000 to the latter. Recipients of the funds: the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture respectively.

(c) $40,000 for the performance in both the Palestinian Territories and Israel of the Israeli-Palestinian production “Viewpoints”, a play with both Palestinian and Israeli actors. Recipient of the funds: the Peres Center for Peace.

(d) $20,000 towards the convening of a conference on Reconstructing a Culture of Peace in a Violent Reality: the Case of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Recipient of the funds: the Jewish-Arab Centre for Peace (Givat Haviva).

(e) $10,000 to enable the Palestine Wildlife Society to cooperate better with the International Centre for the Study of Bird Migration for activities allowing Palestinian and Israeli children to work together on environmental projects. Recipient of the funds: the Palestine Wildlife Society.

F. Overall assessment of the mission in education

21. The four-person specialized mission in education who stayed in the Palestinian Territories while the other part of the mission was in Israel was warmly welcomed as it was the first time since 1999 that UNESCO officials entered into a professional dialogue with Palestinian specialists in education to review the situation of education at all levels in the Palestinian Territories.  It was a unique opportunity to establish urgent needs as well as medium- and long-term priorities and devise ways and means to address them together. This joint consultative process proved as important as the fruit it may bear.

22. The delegation in education met with a large number of senior officials of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, including the Minister himself. They also held consultations with the Special Representative of UNICEF; the President and Vice-Presidents of Bir Zeit University; the Director of the Palestinian Curriculum Development Center and his staff; the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture; and a consultant of the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning implementing a “carry-over”-funded case study on education systems under crisis. They also visited: a government school; an UNRWA school in the Al Amari Refuge Camp in Ramallah; and a UNESCO Associated School.

23. The major conclusions of these various encounters were:

(a) UNESCO should continue its support for capacity-building, with particular attention to planning and management skills of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and to other Palestinian educational institutions. In this regard, UNESCO should provide assistance to strengthen the institutional and operational links between the central and the district levels of the Ministry. The objectives should be: (a) to attempt to maintain an acceptable quality of education and prevent its further deterioration; and (b) to assist in remedial education activities to compensate for the lost days and the frequent interruptions of education services.

(b) UNESCO should play a more active role in facilitating the EFA process.

(c) UNESCO should pay more attention to the needs of higher education and bring them to the attention of the donor community.

24. A thorough review of the “carry-over” funds in education was carried out with the Palestinian partners. The work done consisted in ascertaining the appropriateness of the proposals approved in principle by the Task Force on Reconstruction and Reconciliation in the Middle East.

G. Overall assessment of the mission in culture

25. Further to ongoing discussions over the last several months with Palestinian authorities in the area of culture, as well as meetings held with the delegation, the following should form the basis of UNESCO’s forthcoming strategy in culture:

(a) Special emphasis should be put on developing the national capacity of the relevant Palestinian institutions to manage, protect and develop the numerous archaeological sites of special value. This will entail a series of activities, particularly training, both in the region, abroad and in situ, in various technical matters (the planned World Heritage Centre activities are part of this effort). Other types of activities should also be envisaged such as preparing an inventory of cultural heritage through the establishment of a register, setting up conservation laboratories and research units, and developing documentation and publications.

(b) Special attention needs to be given to the core of a number of Old Cities, like Nablus, Jericho and Hebron. Action plans need to be developed, including the where and how to intervene in terms of restoration, while taking into consideration the conservation of traditional architecture.

(c) Assistance to the museum sector, both in reorganizing the existing ones and establishing new ones.

H. Meeting with some donors

26. An exploratory meeting with some donors interested in offering support to projects in education was graciously hosted by the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem and was attended by donors from the Italian and French Governments, as well as representatives of the World Bank. This was the first opportunity given to UNESCO to actually elaborate the genesis of a funding strategy in education for the region. Essentially technical issues were addressed and in particular the plans and priorities of the respective participants. Again, the necessity to increase UNESCO’s advocacy role was stressed by all present and the mission was reminded of the importance of investing in endogenous capacity-building.

I. Working sessions with the heads of three United Nations agencies

27. One of the important aspects of the mission was the strengthening of UNESCO’s contacts at the highest level with some of the well-established United Nations agencies working in the region.

28. It is worth recalling that the UNESCO Office in Ramallah maintains daily contacts with United Nations agencies based in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza and its head, Ms Costanza Farina, is a member of the inter-agency mechanism set up to address issues in the region where she leads the working group on education. The United Nations sister agencies are thus a source of strength for the UNESCO Office in Ramallah as well as instrumental partners in many other ways. For example, both UNICEF and UNDP provided the mission with indispensable logistical support – sturdy cars and knowledgeable drivers – without which extensive travelling in occasionally difficult conditions would not have been possible.

29. The delegation was fortunate to be able to talk at length with the heads of four key United Nations institutions who, individually and collectively, have gathered a wealth of knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the region, namely: Terje Roed-Larsen, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process; Peter Hansen, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), whose Director of the Department of Education is appointed by the Director-General and is a UNESCO staff member; Timothy S. Rothermel, Special Representative for the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People; and Pierre Poupard, Special Representative for UNICEF.

30. All heads of agencies reacted favourably to the UNESCO confidence-building measures being put in place and there was unanimous agreement that UNESCO had a specific role to play in this regard, even though the difficulties ahead are real. UNESCO’s two-track simultaneous approach to reconciliation – between Arabs and Jews within Israel, on the one hand and between Israelis and Palestinians, on the other – was viewed as pragmatic and a worthwhile investment. Building bridges should be done between those who share a common interest, training and profession: teachers to teachers; farmers to farmers; professors to professors; doctors to doctors; etc. Some United Nations colleagues felt that UNESCO should identify topics of research where professionals could team up. Investigation of the respective and common cultural heritage and the commissioning of studies to assess progress in improving the contents of textbooks in the region were cases in point.

31. The agencies are looking forward to UNESCO’s overall strategy and revitalized plan of action for the region and stressed the importance of striking a healthy balance between meeting emergency needs and addressing medium- and long-term priorities.

32. Finally, increasing the profile of UNESCO’s advocacy role was stressed. It was even suggested that a communications officer should be hired by the UNESCO Office in Ramallah for that purpose.

THE FIVE MISSIONS CARRIED OUT BY PROGRAMME SECTORS:

OBJECTIVES SET AND RESULTS ACHIEVED

A. Missions sent by the Culture Sector to the Palestinian Territories

Mission to Bethlehem

13-17 October 2002

Reminder: UNESCO has been involved in Bethlehem in the past, carrying out several projects in

education and culture there since 1995.

Objectives of the mission:

(a) review and finalize the work plan of the project prepared by CCHP;

(b) establish an updated programme and schedule for activities to be undertaken;

(c) participate in a workshop on CMP, organized by CCHP;

(d) create and train a technical team in the field to execute the work plan.

Mission results:

(a) finalization of the plan of action outlining the projects, their cost and the timetable for their implementation;

(b) need to define accurately the geographical boundaries of each of the three municipalities;

(c) gathering by CCHP up to January 2003, of information and specific documents required for the implementation of the second phase of the plan of action.

Difficulties encountered:

(a) designation and possible training of a work team composed of 16 architects and computer specialists;

(b) designation by the Ministries of Information, Culture, and Tourism and Antiquities of personnel to be seconded to the project;

(c) office equipment, including computer equipment, still not provided by Bethlehem 2000;

(d) administrative problems between the World Bank and Italy, delaying the dispatch of the second follow-up mission of the two experts in January 2003;

(e) the security situation in Bethlehem, most of the time under curfew.

Missions to Nablus

5-10 November 2002

7-12 December 2002

Reminder: UNESCO has carried out several projects in Nablus since 1995.

Objectives of the mission:

(a) finalization of the details of the drawings and plans for the caravanserai and establishment of a detailed work plan and timetable for the execution of the work to restore the historic building of Khân al-Wakâlât;

(b) renovation and restoration of surrounding infrastructure and streets;

(c) reuse of the caravanserai for crafts, tourism and cultural services;

(d) development of the local authorities’ capacities to manage projects on the protection of the cultural heritage.

Mission results:

(a) submission of the detailed work plan to the European Commission;

(b) official submission to the City of Nablus of all the documentation prepared by the bureau of the expert, located in Florence, Italy, for the rehabilitation of the Khân al-Wakâlât;

(c) presentation of the drawings to Nablus on the occasion of a photographic exhibition “Nablus, architecture of a city” held by the municipality of Nablus with the assistance of the European Commission and the French Consulate-General in Jerusalem on the historic buildings of the Old Town of Nablus.

Difficulties encountered:

(a) due to the curfews in Nablus, it was not possible to execute the project within the time-limits initially set and with the amounts allocated in the agreement signed by UNESCO and the European Commission (the time-limit was subsequently extended and the amounts increased);

(b) unexpected damage to the Old Town and the caravanserai following the events of April 2002 in Nablus.

Reconnaissance mission on the Palestinian cultural heritage

14 November-15 December 2002

Objectives of the mission:

(a) assist the head of the UNESCO Ramallah Office with the continuation and technical supervision of the extrabudgetary projects of the Division of Cultural Heritage in the main Palestinian cities;

(b) develop suitable projects for the restoration and rehabilitation of the cultural heritage in the region (in Ramallah, Hebron, Jericho and Nablus);

(c) make the necessary contacts with representatives of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Committee for Education, Culture and Science, the Director-General for Antiquities, and professionals and donors concerned by cultural projects in the Palestinian Territories;

(d) represent the Division of Cultural Heritage in the intersectoral mission led by the Deputy Director-General in the region from 7 to 15 December 2002.

Results achieved:

(a) precise and detailed evaluation of each ongoing extrabudgetary project, documents produced by UNESCO experts, and indication of the next steps to take in the programmes to rehabilitate and rebuild the Palestinian cultural heritage;

(b) consideration of the establishment of a UNESCO programme for the rehabilitation of the Palestinian cultural heritage (2003-2005) and specific project proposals;

(c) strengthening of UNESCO activities for projects concerning the cultural heritage, in particular with regard to expertise and dissemination of theexperience gained.

Difficulties encountered:

(a) the consultant was unable to go to Bethlehem, which was under curfew during his mission;

(b) the security situation on the ground seriously impeded UNESCO's ability to carry out projects within the deadlines.

B. Follow-up mission by the Communication and Information Sector

Follow-up mission by the Communication and Information Sector 1-7 February 2003

Objectives of the mission:

(a) ensure the follow-up to projects started during a mission in September 2002, in particular the finalization of the project involving dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian media professionals and evaluation of the needs of the Palestinian news agency WAFA in Gaza and Ramallah;

(b) meet journalists, media professionals, NGO representatives and Israeli and Palestinian officials.

Results achieved:

(a) initiation of the overall assessment of the Palestinian press agency WAFA, in particular with regard to editorial independence, the structure and functioning of the agency, and training needs;

(b) possibility of a one-hour television programme, co-produced by the second Israeli television channel, the Palestinian channel PBC and one or two European channels as part of the project “Dialogue in the field of the media”, the first cooperation of this type for many years;

(c) finalization of the project “preparation of a bilingual Hebrew-Arabic newspaper supplement”;

(d) clear desire on the part of most of the Israeli and Palestinian journalists encountered to resume dialogue with their counterparts at an informal meeting outside the region;

(e) agreement with the Palestinian channel PBC, under a plan of action aimed at strengthening the establishment of independent media in the Palestinian Territories, to send an expert mission to the region to carry out an overall assessment of the situation of the channel.

Difficulties encountered:

The carry-over funds from the previous biennium allocated to the project were inadequate; additional funds will need to be raised.

III. CURRENT STATUS OF THE 21 ACTIVITIES SELECTED UNDER THE “CARRY-OVER” FUNDS OF $1,135,000 FOR “RECONSTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROMOTING RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS” (164 EX/DECISION 6.2)

33. A total of 21 projects will be the beneficiaries of the unspent balance of $1,135,000 for 2000-2001 for “Reconstruction of Palestinian educational and cultural infrastructure and promoting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians” decided by the 164th session of the Executive Board in May 2002.

34. Each project has now been entered into UNESCO’s System of Information on Strategies, Tasks and the Evaluation of Results (SISTER) to which Member States and their National Commissions have access. Even though all projects are well under way, an internal mechanism has been developed to ensure that all activities will be enacted within the prescribed time frame.  Since the return of the Deputy Director-General to Headquarters from his mission, the Deputy Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Cooperation has been requested to oversee all 21 projects and monitor their implementation within the prescribed time frame.

IV. PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SOME 55 PALESTINIAN STUDENTS DURING THE 2002-2003 BIENNIUM

A. From Japanese extrabudgetary funds: US $200,000 for 40 students

35. Further to the “project document” signed with the Japanese authorities setting out the conditions of allocation of the funds and the plan of operations signed with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to UNESCO, 40 Palestinian students (18 women and 22 men), both undergraduates and graduates studying in Europe, Asia, the Arab States and North America were selected in January 2003 as beneficiaries of this financial assistance to be paid directly to them, in two separate instalments, for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 academic years. Before qualifying for the second instalment, students are expected to produce the result of their studies and research.

B. From “carry-over” funds: US $50,000 for approximately 10 students

36. Some 10 students carrying out graduate studies in culture and the arts – art, history of art, architecture, archaeology and museum studies – will be selected by UNESCO upon submission of a list of potential beneficiaries by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to UNESCO, no later than March 2003. Negotiations are under way in this regard.

C. From the regular budget of the Education Sector: US $15,000 for five students

37. On 14 January 2003, US $15,000 were awarded for five undergraduate students (three women and two men) selected in cooperation with the Education Sector and the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to UNESCO.

V. FIRST MEASURES TAKEN TO ENACT DECISION 26 COM 6.1 OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE (BUDAPEST, 24-29 JUNE 2002)

A. Mission of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to the Palestinian Territories (1-8 October 2002)

38. Following the 26th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Budapest in June 2002, Decision 26 COM 6.1 invited the “Director-General, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to assist with the task of establishing an inventory of [Palestinian] cultural and natural heritage, assessing state of conservation and the measures for its preservation and rehabilitation”.  The World Heritage Committee approved an amount of US $150,000 for this purpose. In October 2002, the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and its Chief of the Arab Unit carried out a mission in the region to explore ways and means of enacting this decision.

B. Plan of action

39. After consultation with the appropriate authorities, seven activities were identified including: the preparation of a preliminary inventory of sites; an assessment of the state of conservation of two selected sites (to be determined); and capacity-building training activities for Palestinian professionals to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972).

C. Implementation of the first activity identified within the plan of action: a training course for Palestinian professionals

40. A “Training Workshop on the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” is expected to be carried out in Rome (Italy) from 30 March to 6 April 2003 with 15 Palestinian professionals in attendance, carefully selected by UNESCO and the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Trained as architects, civil engineers, historians and archaeologists, they will participate in the course given by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), in order to become familiar with the objectives, terminology and procedures of the World Heritage Convention through theoretical classes, site visits and practical exercises.

VI. NEW MEASURES TAKEN TO REINFORCE THE UNESCO OFFICE IN RAMALLAH

A. Two new professionals from Headquarters and training of local staff

41. Since the last Executive Board in October 2002, two professional staff have been transferred from Headquarters to the UNESCO Office in Ramallah. Both at P-3 level, they are specialists in education and in fund-raising within the United Nations system. It is expected that shortly an architect specializing in restoration will join them for a nine-month period under contract with the Organization. Furthermore, all three local staff have received training outside the Palestinian Territories: the administrative assistant spent two weeks at Headquarters and the project assistant and the executive secretary spent two weeks together in the UNESCO Office in Beirut where they were exposed to a well-established and large UNESCO Office which handles a high volume of funds and projects.

B. More functional premises

42. During his mission there in December 2002, the Deputy Director-General felt that appropriate premises should be secured as the current ones are not centrally located and families live on the ground floor. New premises are being identified and the Office should move into them in the near future.

VII. CONCLUSION

43. In the forthcoming months, three large-scale meetings need be convened:

(a) the Joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Coordinating Committee, which last met in April 2000, will, inter alia, examine and approve Phase IV of the UNESCO Programme for Palestine (UPP);

(b) upon the proposal of the Palestinian Authority, a follow-up meeting of donor countries will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates;

(c) the Joint Meeting of the Israel National Commission for UNESCO and the Palestinian Committee for Education, Science and Culture, their first opportunity to cooperate in close to three years.

44. In the weeks ahead, a comprehensive UNESCO strategy for the Middle East will be developed and submitted to the Task Force on Reconstruction and Reconciliation in the Middle East and Member States for discussion.

45. In mid-February, world events led the United Nations Security Coordinator to suspend all missions to Israel and the Palestinian Territories (except for those urgent missions of a humanitarian and political nature) until further notice (the scheduled mission of the ADG/SHS from 22 to 26 March 2003 may thus be delayed).

46. Even though the recent developments on the ground will not facilitate the Organization’s “reconstruction and reconciliation” agenda, the Director-General is fully committed to the pursuit of reconciliation and peace in the Middle East and intends to continue dedicating his personal efforts and those of his staff to achieve this aim.

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