Latvia elected to UNESCO Executive Council

On 14 October, Latvia was elected to the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation's Executive Council for the period from 2009 to 2011. The election took place as part of the 35th Session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris. It was 18 years ago, on 14 October 1991 that Latvia became UNESCO member state.

The UNESCO Executive Council represents 58 countries of the world and convenes twice a year, operating like an administrative council for the preparation of a current General Conference and the co-ordination of effective implementation of the conference decisions during the period between sessions. The representatives of the countries elected to the Executive Council represent also the interests of their own countries, but at the same time the Executive Council as a whole represents the interests of the General Conference.

The membership of the UNESCO Executive Council will allow Latvia to take an active part in the decision making process, to contribute to the organisation's work, thus raising the international profile of Latvia in various issues of the UNESCO competence.

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