If UNESCO wants to remain relevant, maybe we must first conduct strategic transformation more quickly. It (strategic transformation) was launched several years ago, but it works very slowly.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is encouraging the “immediate” reform of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to adapt it to today's world, Indonesia’s permanent delegate to the world body, Arrmanatha Nasir, said.



UNESCO's reform is part of UN reform, he said, while addressing an online seminar commemorating 70 years of Indonesia-UNESCO relations on Monday.



Calls for UN reform have mounted ever since they came to a standstill, he noted.



"If UNESCO wants to remain relevant, maybe we must first conduct strategic transformation more quickly. It (strategic transformation) was launched several years ago, but it works very slowly," he remarked.



The strategic transformation within the multilateral body may cover organizational structure, efficiency, work method, and reprogramming, he observed.



“The reprogramming must also be on the target. It must not merely be motivated by donor countries' wish or several groups' interests,” Nasir, who is concurrently the Indonesian ambassador to France, said.



In October, 2017, the US had quit as a UNESCO member, demanding reform at the world body. The US also opted to become an observer country within the organization.



Hopefully, not just UNESCO will carry out the strategic transformation, but Indonesia could also internally play an optimum role and contribute to the Paris-based organization, Nasir said.



"Once again, we must look at how to sharpen interest and strategy in UNESCO. If viewed from Paris' perspective, we have worked very hard, but we have not had the same commitment in the context of preservation," he added. (INE)


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