Cuban Higher Education Minister, Rodolfo Alarcon, said the island will remain committed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its founding principles.

The Organization should continue leading the global debate on the role of culture as an essential element in the sustainable development of our nations, Alarcon said after addressing at the 38th General Conference of the institution in session until Nov. 18.

This issue occupied a prominent place in the agenda of the meeting of culture ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, held in Havana in September, he noted.

Alarcon stressed that after marking its 70 years of its founding, UNESCO should continue playing a leading role in the fight against illiteracy, promoting a quality education for everyone throughout life.

He recalled that some few weeks ago, the heads of State and Government adopted at the UN General Assembly the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Unfortunately, the modest commitments defined in 2000 as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), were not complied with, he stated.

Alarcon stressed that Cuba did not only comply with the MDGs, but also provided support and cooperation to other developing countries.

This has been possible thanks to the political will of the government, the undisputed support of the people, and its solidarity and internationalist vocation, based on the principle of sharing the limited resources it has and not what it have enough, he said.

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