Executive Board Two hundred and fourth session 204 EX/24 PARIS, 9 March 2018 Original: English Item 24 of the provisional agenda DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION BETWEEN UNESCO AND THE SECRETARIAT OF THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (2018-2022) SUMMARY The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has expressed a wish to establish official cooperation relations with UNESCO. In accordance with Article XI, paragraph 1, of the Constitution of UNESCO, the Director-General submits to the Executive Board for approval a draft Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This document has no financial or administrative implications. Action expected of the Executive Board: decision proposed in paragraph 5. 1. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China. The SCO s main goals are strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region. Currently the SCO comprises eight member states, namely India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In addition, the SCO has four observer States Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia, and six dialogue partners Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey and Sri Lanka. 2. The SCO has established close cooperation with the United Nations (UN) and its agencies. On 2 December 2004, the 59th plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution А/RES/59/48 (agenda item 151) entitled Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the General Assembly. The resolution provided the SCO with the right to participate in the sessions and work of the UNGA as an observer. The SCO Secretariat maintains regular contacts with the UN Secretariat. Traditionally, high-ranking representatives of the UN attend annual SCO summits upon the invitation of the country holding SCO's current presidency. The last SCO summit, which was held on 9 June 2017, was attended by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Starting from 2009, every two years, the UNGA adopts a Resolution titled Cooperation Job: 201800269
between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, stressing the importance of improving the dialogue, cooperation and coordination between the UN system and the SCO. The latest related UNGA Resolution was adopted on 22 November 2016. On 5 April 2010, the SCO Secretary-General and the UN Secretary-General signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Secretariat of the SCO and the UN, in Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan. The declaration stated, among other points, the intention of the parties to expand cooperation in communications and information exchange. With the purpose to establish close ties with UN divisions and specialized agencies, the SCO has signed Memorandums of Understanding with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), respectively in June 2011 and December 2015. 3. The overall objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to provide a framework for cooperation between UNESCO and SCO in the area of joint interest, with specific attention to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/67/L.44 of 11 December 2012 on International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures for 2013-2022 aimed at strengthening peace, sustainable development and inter-cultural dialogue by means of developing cooperation in education, science, culture, communication and information. 4. In accordance with Article XI, paragraph 1, of the UNESCO Constitution, the Director-General submits to the Executive Board for examination and approval the draft Memorandum of Understanding contained in the Annex. Proposed decision 5. Should the Executive Board approve the draft Memorandum of Understanding, it may wish to adopt the following decision: The Executive Board, 1. Having examined document 204 EX/24, 2. Authorizes the Director-General to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2018-2022) as contained in the Annex to document 204 EX/24; 3. Requests the Director-General to report on the activities carried out in the framework of this Memorandum of Understanding in her statutory reports on the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference.
Annex ANNEX MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SECRETARIAT OF THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION AND THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (2018-2022) I. INTRODUCTION The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as SCO ), represented by the Secretariat of the SCO, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter referred to as UNESCO ), referred to jointly as the Parties. IN ACCORDANCE WITH the Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Organization Secretariats of 5 April 2010 and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/71/14 of 21 November 2016; GUIDED BY the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/67/L.44 of 11 December 2012 on International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures for 2013-2022 aimed at strengthening peace, sustainable development and inter-cultural dialogue by means of developing cooperation in education, science, culture, communication and information; HONOURING the principal documents of SCO and UNESCO, as well as other agreements and documents in effect at SCO and UNESCO; INSPIRED BY the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by United Nations Member States in September 2015 and constituting a global commitment to the achievement of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and associated targets by 2030; COMMITTED TO establishing and developing relations of mutually beneficial constructive cooperation between the Secretariat of SCO and UNESCO on issues of education, science, culture, communication and information; WHEREAS the SCO Council of Head of Member States, by decision XXX dated XX June 2018, authorized the Secretary-General to sign this Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Secretariat of SCO and UNESCO; WHEREAS the UNESCO Executive Board, at XXX session, authorized the Director-General to sign this Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Secretariat of SCO and UNESCO; Have hereby reached the following understanding: II. AREAS OF COOPERATION 1. The Parties may cooperate to achieve mutual goals in the following areas within the framework of UNESCO s Approved Programme and Budget, and wherever applicable in line with UNESCO s standard-setting instruments in the field of Culture and with SCO s regulatory and legal documents: protection, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage monuments and sites (cultural and natural); cooperation on the identification and return to SCO Member States of cultural heritage that was illegally taken to other countries;
Annex page 2 developing and/or implementing measures to prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural heritage, including awareness campaigns in SCO Member States; organization of joint activities on the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage with a view to strengthening the capacity of stakeholders; collaboration for the provision of an integrated system of access to libraries, archives and museums within the framework of the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme; promoting policies and implementing measures for protection and preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage; promoting the cultural heritage sites of the SCO Member States; promoting South-South, East-West and other cooperation, in support of science, technology and innovation policies as key drivers for economic development and employment; expanding the opportunities and participation of young people in areas of UNESCO s mandate; fostering the use of information technology in education, science and culture, and establishing knowledge societies; introducing information and communication technologies in education and culture. 2. Cooperation on the above areas will be subject to the availability of adequate resources to fund resulting initiatives, programmes, projects and/or activities. III. MODALITIES OF COOPERATION AND COORDINATION 1. The Parties will enter into consultations to discuss specific forms of joint actions for the implementation of initiatives under this Memorandum of Understanding. Cooperation may take any of the following specific forms: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) consultations between experts; exchanges of information on issues identified for cooperation; provision of technical advice on programmes, projects and initiatives of mutual interest to the Parties; exchanges of analytical information, reports and other materials; design and/or organization of joint conferences, roundtables, seminars, exhibitions, events, presentations, projects and/or programmes on identified Areas of Cooperation; participation on conferences, round tables, seminars, presentations and other events individually organized by the other Party in fulfilment of its respective mandate, on topics of mutual interest; preparation of joint analytical and/or conceptual reports on issues under the identified Areas of Cooperation; coordination of participation of other potential partners in implementation of joint initiatives;
Annex page 3 (i) other forms of cooperation as new needs emerge. 2. The Parties designate the following Focal Points for the implementation of provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding: (j) (k) For the Secretariat of SCO: Deputy Secretary-General, Head of Department on International Affairs. For UNESCO: Representative designated by the Director-General. 3. The Focal Points will be responsible for establishing effective consultation, communication and liaison between the Parties, for facilitating monitoring and reviewing the implementation of initiatives, and for reporting on results achieved. 4. The implementation of any specific activity, programme or project under this Memorandum of Understanding, including their financing, will be subject to a written agreement between the Parties, in accordance with their respective rules, regulations and procedures. IV. CONDITIONS AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION 1. Nothing in or relating to the present Memorandum of Understanding will be deemed a waiver of any of the privileges and immunities of SCO and UNESCO. 2. All disputes arising out of or in connection with the present Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled through consultations. 3. Unless authorized in writing by UNESCO, SCO shall not use the name, acronym or official logo of UNESCO, or any abbreviation of the name of UNESCO, for advertising or any other purposes. 4. Unless authorized in writing by SCO, UNESCO shall not use official symbols of SCO, or any abbreviation of the name of SCO, for advertising or any other purposes. V. COMING INTO EFFECT, DURATION, REVIEW AND TERMINATION 1. This Memorandum of Understanding is not an international Treaty and does not create rights and obligations governed by international law, and is concluded without prejudice to existing accords of SCO Member States and UNESCO. 2. This Memorandum of Understanding will come into effect upon its signature by both Parties, and remain effective until 31 December of 2022. 3. This Memorandum of Understanding may be reviewed, amended, extended or modified by the mutual written agreement of both Parties, in accordance with their respective rules, regulations and procedures. Any extension, revision, amendment or modification will not prejudice the completion of any ongoing programmes, projects and/or initiatives previously agreed upon by both Parties under this Memorandum of Understanding. 4. Either Party may terminate this Memorandum of Understanding upon six months' written notice to the other Party.
Annex page 4 In witness thereof, the undersigned, having been duly authorized by their respective Parties, have signed this Memorandum of Understanding. Done in <Place> on the <day> of <month> of the year 2018, in six originals, in Chinese, Russian and English languages, all texts being deemed equally authentic. In case of divergence between these texts, the English version will be used. ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION Audrey Azoulay DIRECTOR-GENERAL Rashid Alimov SECRETARY-GENERAL Printed on recycled paper