PARIS, FRANCE.- On behalf of the Government of Brunei Darussalam, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the UK, Pengiran Haji Yunus Pengiran Haji Mahmud, today signed UNESCO’s Constitution, completing his country’s accession to full membership of UNESCO. The Organization now numbers 191 Member States. UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura welcomed Brunei Darussalam accession to membership. “It is with great pleasure that I welcome Brunei Darussalam to membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,” the Director-General declared. “News that Brunei Darussalam will become the 191st Member State of UNESCO will be greeted with enthusiasm by UNESCO’s Members and programme partners worldwide. We look forward to working together in areas including science and technology policy development, education and communications networking, and environmental and cultural heritage, priority areas for both Brunei Darussalam and UNESCO.”

The Director-General noted, “Brunei Darussalam brings special strengths to UNESCO’s work through its promotion of sustainable development and cross-cultural dialogue and peace, notably within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Indeed, Calak Brunei, Cara Brunei or the Brunei Way of conflict resolution - emphasising dialogue and compromise, is a contribution to the promotion of peace that the world at large can benefit from.”

“I am glad to note,” the Director-General added, “that with Brunei Darussalam’s accession to membership we are very close to achieving full universality and I look forward to the day when UNESCO will be able to count every single member of the international community in its ranks.”

Brunei Darussalam’s accession to membership follows that of Timor-Leste in 2003, and the return of the United States of America in 2003. UNESCO now numbers 191 Member States.