UNESCO: Biya holds talks with Irina Bokova in Paris

President Paul Biya held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO at the Paris headquarters of the international institution.

The meeting took place in the presence of Mrs. Chantal Biya, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. No information was transmitted from the bilateral meeting but according to official sources, the two personalities exchanged gifts.

It is an open secret that bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and UNESCO is multidimensional, productive and friendly. Moreover, President Paul Biya gave a dense and positive assessment during his speech on Monday before the participants of the forum of leaders attending the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO coupled with the 70th anniversary of the specialized agency of the UN.

Before the bilateral meeting, the President of the Republic and Mrs Chantal Biya attended the second day of the forum of leaders devoted to interventions of states or their representatives.

The arrival of French President François Hollande and especially his speech in the context of Paris undergoing barbaric terrorist attacks, raised emotions but also applause as encouragements were expressed.

He also announced measures for the protection and restoration of property and stolen cultural heritage, pirated or destroyed by the followers of the Islamic state in Syria, Iraq and Mali. He spoke shortly after reading the message sent to the UNESCO forum by US President Barack Obama.

To highlight the role and missions of UNESCO, almost all stakeholders cited the opening text of the Constitution of UNESCO, which says: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that defenses of peace must be erected". President Paul Biya quoted this on Monday.