UNESCO Heads of States Forum

Τhe Director General ofUNESCO, Mrs. Irina Bokova and from right to left, the President of the Republic of Hungary, Mr. Pal Schmitt, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Pascal Irenée Koupaki, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Odinga, the President of the Republic of Côted'Ivoire, Mr. Alassane Ouattara and the Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr. Tillman Thomas.

Mr. Kalin Mitrev, husband of Mrs. Irina Bokova, Mrs. Marianna V.Vardinoyannis and the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez.

In the frame of the 36th General Assembly of UNESCO, that took place from the 27th of October until the 10th of November 2011 at the UNESCO’s Headquarters, UNESCO organised the Heads of States Forum, a platform for reflection and exchange of opinions in the highest rank of governments, intending to new, more inspired and creative prospects for the future of humanity.

The Heads of States, who responded to this new initiative by UNESCO, had the opportunity to investigate the pioneering ideas as well as the new challenges and ways for building the Culture of Peace and promoting the Sustainable Development in collaboration with UNESCO.

From right to left, the President of the Republic of Hungary, Mr.Pal Schmitt, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin, Mr. Pascal Irenée Koupaki, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Odinga, the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Mr. Alassane Ouattaraand and the Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr. Tillman Thomas.

Speeches were addressed in the Forum by: The President of the Republic of Hungary, Mr Pal Schmitt, the President of the Republic of Gabon, Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba, the President of Republic of Ivory Coast, Mr Alassane Ouattara, the Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr Tillman Thomas, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin, Mr Pascal Irenée Koupaki, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr Raila Odinga, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Boris Tadic and the President of the Republic of Palau, Mr Johnson Toribiong.

The Director General of UNESCO, Mrs. Irina Bokova, and the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Mrs. Marianna V.Vardinoyannis.

Greetings were addressed by the Minister-President of the Government of Flanders (Belgium), Mr Kris Peeters, the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, and the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez.
The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was also invited and participated in the Forum, as she is activated, within the frame of her mission, in the UNESCO programmes related to promoting peace and sustainable development as well as education and the protection of cultural heritage. The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and former Prime Minister of Iceland, Mrs Vigdis Finnbogadottir and the artist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mr Zurab Tsereteli also participated

It is worth noting that the Ministers and the Heads of Permanent Delegations from many UNESCO member states who participated in the Forum intervene in a brief but to the point way, while journalists from all over the world covered with extensive reportages the important proposals and the vital decisions taken by the participants during the Forum.

The First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez and the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Mrs.Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.

The Forum of the Heads of States opened with the speeches of the new President of the UNESCO General Assembly, Mrs Katalina Bogyay, the President of the Executive Board of UNESCO, Mrs Eleonora Mitrofanova, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Mrs Irina Bokova, which during her speech pointed out that: “Our world today, more than ever, needs powerful ideas, which mobilize the societies and bind us together. For the next day, therefore, we may like to remember the words of the famous humanist and French writer, Victor Hugo: One can resist an invading army but cannot resist an idea whose time has come”. The journalists Zeinab Badawi, broadcaster of BBC World News Today, and Stephen Cole, broadcaster of Al Jazeera English were the Forum’s coordinators.

The First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva and the Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.

2011: UNESCO Heads of States Forum; There is HOPE!; Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"; International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.; The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".; Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.; Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
2010: Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.; The Global Forum against human trafficking.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.; Makistos smiles again!; 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.; 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors; An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.; International campaign supporting Greece.; The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.; First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
2009: Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.; Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.; Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".; International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".; International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.; International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.; Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
2008: The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.; Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.; Universal call for the Climate Change.; The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.; The appeal of Ancient Olympia.; The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
2007: 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.; The Chart of Paris against cancer.; The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.; Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.; Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.; International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.; Global Humanitarian Forum.; Makistos smiles again.
2006: Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".; Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.; The "Athens Principles" in Davos.; International Center for Peace Studies.; Protecting youth from drugs.; The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.; 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
2005: Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.; The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.; The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
2004: Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.; International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.; International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
2003: 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.; Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.; Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.; The Mentor Awards.; Awards to mothers.
2002: Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.; Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.; Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.; Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.; The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
2001: The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
2000: A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.; Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.; Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.; The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.; The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.; 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.; Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
1999: By the side of mothers and children behind bars.; Juvenile disappearance and abduction.; The Hague Appeal for Peace.; International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.; Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.; By the side of the earthquake victims.; International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
1998: A three-point shot for a life.; European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".; Family and the mass media.; Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
1997: International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.; By the side of the children of Xanthi.; Embracing children suffering from AIDS.; The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.

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UNESCO Heads of States Forum