The President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Chilean Senator Sergio Páez, and UNESCO Director General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, met in Paris today. Mr. Páez and Mr. Matsuura discussed the possibility of creating a parliamentary network within the IPU for matters relatrelated to UNESCO, particularly in the field of education.

"The IPU wishes to strengthen its cooperation with UNESCO, especially in the field of education for all, a key project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation", declared the President of the IPU Council. Mr. Páez added that "MPs have an essential role to play, especially in the implementation of a real education for all and the implications that this can have on the adoption of budgets by parliaments".

UNESCO and the IPU are also envisaging publishing a handbook for MPs to facilitate cooperation between UNESCO national commissions and parliaments.

---

Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 144 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has a Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York.
Other press releases	More information

---

Contacts:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60, 919 41 97 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org