TALLINN – The Estonian government on Thursday decided to authorize the minister of culture to decide on the dissolution of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO in order to transfer its functions to the Ministry of Culture.
"The Estonian National Commission for UNESCO is a small foundation that is fully funded by the state budget and to which all the requirements of a foundation, such as a supervisory board, necessary support services or reporting and auditing obligations, extend. Operating as a small foundation involves an unnecessary amount of red tape. At the ministry, the commission retains its independence and continues with all existing tasks, but has access to the ministry's support activities," Tarvi Sits, secretary general of the Ministry of Culture, said in a press release.
The Estonian National Commission for UNESCO was set up in 1992. Starting from 1999, the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO works in the form of a foundation and is a link and coordinator between the UNESCO headquarters as well as persons and organizations connected with UNESCO activity in Estonia, creating opportunities for them to be involved in the UNESCO work and ensuring Estonia's participation in the creation of common values in global cooperation.
Estonia became a member of UNESCO on Oct. 14, 1991. Under the UNESCO statutes, a member state provides the main agencies interested in educational, scientific and cultural issues with the opportunity to be involved in the work of the organization, preferably through the establishment of a national commission.
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