Australian seeks Ghana's support to head UNESCO

Accra, Sept. 16, GNA - President Jerry John Rawlings on Thursday expressed disgust about the carnage in East Timor and appealed to the international community to restore order quickly.

He said it was gratifying a number of countries had undertaken to contribute troops to a proposed United Nations Peacekeeping Force for the territory and appealed to Indonesia to co-operate with the force to make its mission successful.

The President said this when Mr Gareth Evans, a former Australian Foreign Minister, called on him at the Castle, Osu, to lobby for UNESCO's top job. Mr Evans is seeking Ghana's support in his quest to become the Director-General of the UN body when the incumbent, Dr Federico Mayor, leaves office next year.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also putting up candidates. Violence erupted in East Tmor following a referendum organised by the UN in which about 80 per cent of voters of the island territory voted to be independent. Since then, pro-Indonesia militia supported by Jakarta Police and the Military have killed people and burned property in the territory.

Thousands of East Timorese have been displaced within and others have become come refugees outside the territory. President Rawlings said: "we are happy about the efforts some Asian countries, led by Australia, are making to restore peace in East Timor.

It is our hope they enjoy the co-operation of the Indonesian security forces. We have seen too much violence in the world." "We want to see this conflict brought to an end as quickly as possible. We should not carry this sort of violence into the next millennium".

President Rawlings told Mr Evans that he is well qualified for the post he is seeking. "It is my hope that the other countries will see your value and do the appropriate thing when the time comes." "This does not mean we are guaranteeing you our support.

However, you will be one of our first choices." Dr Christina Amoako-Nuamah, Minister of Lands and Forestry and Mr Nathan Quao, an adviser to the President, both expressed satisfaction of UNESCO's support for Ghana, especially in education.

"Ghana appreciates UNESCO's assistance, especially in the study of science in higher institutions," she said, and appealed to the UN body to also concentrate on inculcating "the culture of peace in children" as a way of promoting world peace.

Mr Evans said he is the candidate of both Australia and the Pacific states and taking into account his country's membership of the Commonwealth, which is made of countries with different cultures, he is the most qualified candidate. He said with globalisation taking roots, UNESCO's importance is growing "to maintain the balance between developed and developing countries."