Prominent Bulgarian journalists and publishers visit UNESCO Headquarters
On May 11, 2009, Bulgarian media managers, prominent publishers, and journalists visted UNESCO headquarters in Paris for a number of meetings with members of the Secretariat of the Organisation.
They met with Mrs Françoise Rivière, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture. At the meeting, which was also attended by Ambassador Irina Bokova, Mrs Rivière spoke about the activities of UNESCO in the field of culture and more specifically about the efforts to protect world cultural heritage and to preserve cultural diversity.
In the course of the meeting with Mr Nino Gomez, Director of the Bureau of Public Information of UNESCO and Chief of the Publishing Division, the Bulgarian journalists and publishers were briefed on the activities of the Bureau regarding information on UNESCO events, contacts with the media, and actions in defending freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
Ambassador Bokova shared her views with the Bulgarian journalists and publishers on the issue of freedom of the press and freedom of speech, underlining that freedom of speech is an unalienable right of each individual and every democratic society. She added that the role of UNESCO, as a unique organisation within the United Nations system, is to defend freedom of speech and freedom of the press as guarantees for the democratic development of every society. She shared her opinion that by offering a tribune open to all members of society, the media will become agents facilitating dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation among nations and cultures.
Later that day, the Bulgarian delegation was received by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, who answered questions posed by the journalists. He also made an analysis of his term in office and the challenges he had to overcome.