SESAME COUNCIL Interim Council Meeting 2nd Meeting

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

Opening Remarks by Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at the synchrotron light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) 2nd Meeting of the International (Interim) Council

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to UNESCO for this second session of the International Interim Council of the SESAME project. As you know, I took office as Director-General of UNESCO last month with the firm commitment to reactivate a strong focus on the primary missions of our Organization.

Within the field of scientific cooperation, the SESAME project is an outstanding example of "science in action" :
• In action, to establish a world-class facility within a region whose development requires a strong science base.
• In action, to create fresh bonds of cooperation across borders and between peoples.
• This project exemplifies the aims of the World Conference on Science which I attended in Budapest last June:
• To forge a new relationship between science and society.
• To build up the science base in developing countries and to increase international scientific exchange and networking.

It is this type of undertaking that I have in mind when I say I want a stronger focus on UNESCO's primary missions and the best way to translate our missions into action is through strong partnerships such as the one sustaining the SESAME project.

Many of you met here at UNESCO Headquarters at the Consultative Meeting last June to discuss the feasibility of setting up a synchrotron light facility in the Middle East. That meeting was the result of active collaboration at the national, regional and international level, involving governments, scientists, technical experts and research institutions. It led to further collaboration and considerable progress:

• Germany has confirmed its readiness to donate the upgraded BESSY ONE machine. I most warmly thank the representatives of Germany and BESSY for this very generous offer and their precious collaboration in developing the project.
• An excellent information brochure has been prepared and widely circulated, and an internet site has been set up.
• The Scientific and Technical Committees have met to discuss the scientific programme and elaborate the requirements and guidelines for the preparation of site proposals. Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Oman, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey have proposed to host SESAME.
• A draft proposal concerning the statutes of SESAME has been prepared, which I am pleased to see gives UNESCO a key role in the organization and running of the project.

The SESAME project has met with strong approval and active encouragement, both from the international scientific community and from national authorities in the Middle East and Mediterranean region.

The meeting of the Council which opens today is of crucial importance. Among other vital matters, you will discuss the site offers. It is now necessary to consult with governments interested in the project on the next steps that should be taken to establish SESAME. The project has reached a critical phase where a decision on whether or not to go ahead should be taken rapidly, within the next two or three weeks.

Let me assure you that UNESCO and I personally will do everything possible to help you realize this unique and exciting project. It offers a remarkable opportunity for international and regional scientific cooperation. It promises to be an outstanding example of science in the service of peace.

I wish you very fruitful discussions and look forward to hearing your recommendations.