international simón bolívar prize; 1979 -...

INTERNATIONAL

SIMÓN

BOLÍVAR

PRIZE

INTERNATIONAL

SIMÓN

BOLÍVAR

PRIZE

Republic of Venezuela

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

oresco

Published in 1979 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris

Composed by Jean-Claude Bellard Printed by Imprimerie de la Manutention,

Mayenne (France)

I S B N : 92-3-101739-X French edition: 92-3-20I739-3 Spanish edition: 92-3-301739-7

© Unesco 1979 Printed in France

The essential purpose of Unesco is 'to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the h u m a n rights and fundamental freedoms (Article I of Unesco's Constitution).

In the history of the world w e find some great figures that stand out clearly as harbingers of these purposes which Unesco serves. A m o n g them the Venezuelan Simón Bolívar, the Liberator w h o fought everywhere for the independence of the American continent, is remarkable on account both of his clear political thinking and of the way in which his action was perfectly fitted to that thinking. Hence Bolivar's thought and work have a continuing and transcendent validity in the context of international relations. It is doubtless for this reason that the Venezuelan Government's generous offer to establish an international prize, bearing the n a m e of the Liberator and designed to symbolize the illustrious significance of his action, met with so w a r m a welcome not only from the Latin American countries but also from the M e m b e r States of Unesco as a whole.

In July 1978 the proposal to establish an International Simón Bolívar Prize was submitted to the Organization by the Republic of Venezuela, with the explicit purpose of rewarding every second year activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of S imón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity among nations, fostered their development or facilitated the quest for a n e w international economic, social and cultural order. This proposal was accepted successively by the Director-General, the Executive Board and the General Conference of Unesco.

The International Prize will be awarded by the Director-General in accordance with the procedures set forth in the relevant Statutes and Regulations.

The purpose of this publication, prepared by the Unesco Secretariat at the request of the Republic of Venezuela, is to m a k e known the action taken within the Organization regarding the International S imón Bolívar Prize. Its aim is more particularly to acquaint all interested persons or institutions with the Statutes and the Financial Regulations pertaining to the Prize. W e have also sought, through the speeches m a d e by members of the Executive Board at the session when the Prize was approved, to bring out the universal nature of the Liberator's historical dimension.

Contents

Preliminary agreement between the President of Venezuela and the Director-General of Unesco 9

Communication from Carlos Andres Pérez, President of the Republic of Venezuela, to Amadou-Mahtar M ' B o w , Director-General of Unesco 10 Reply from Amadou-Mahtar M ' B o w , Director-General of Unesco, to Carlos Andrés Pérez, President of the Republic of Venezuela 12

Discussion of the project by the Executive Board of Unesco 15

Statement by Arturo Uslar Pietri, M e m b e r of the Executive Board and Permanent Delegate to Unesco of the Republic of Venezuela 17 S o m e views expressed by members of the Executive Board 24 Paulo E. de Berrêdo Carneiro (Brazil) 25 Horacio J. Bustamante (Panama) 26 Luis Echeverría (Mexico) 27 Julio Le Riverend (Cuba) 29 Esteban E. Torres (United States of America) 30 Gonzalo Abad Grijalva (Ecuador) 31 Werner Bahner (German Democratic Republic) 33 Valentin Lipatti (Romania) 34 Eugenia Krassowska (Poland) 35 Timothée Ngakoutou (Chad) 36 Kustijah Prodjolalito (Indonesia) 37 Alberto Wagner de Reyna (Peru) 38

Vladimir A. Karpuchine (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) 39

David J. Church (United Kingdom) 40 François Valéry (France) 41

Hassan Muraywid (Syrian Arab Republic) 42 Alberto Melo (Portugal) 43

Tsien Li Yen (China) 44 Arthur T. Porter (Sierra Leone) 45

Decision of the Executive Board 47

Statutes of the International Simón Bolívar Prize 49

Financial Regulations for the Special Account for the International

Simón Bolívar Prize 51

Resolution of the General Conference 53

Speech by Ambassador Raúl María Pereira,

Head of the Peruvian Delegation 54 Text of the resolution of the General Conference 56

Cover: Simón Bolívar the Liberator. Portrait from life by an unknown artist, painted in Quito around 1823

PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA A N D THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL

OF UNESCO

At the beginning of July 1978, the President of the Republic of Venezuela and the Director-General of Unesco exchanged communications concerning the proposal to establish an International Simón Bolívar Prize. The text of these communications explains both the meaning and purpose of the prize and the reasons which determined its subsequent approval.

Communication from

Carlos Andrés Pérez,

President of Venezuela,

to Amadou-Mahtar M ' B o w ,

Director-General of Unesco

Miraflores, 3 July 1978

M r A m a d o u - M a h t a r M ' B o w Director-General of Unesco

Sir, I a m most gratified by your favourable reception of the proposal to set up an International Prize to be awarded every two years by your distinguished Organization from funds provided by the Government of Venezuela. M y Government believes that there could be no more effective and fitting w a y of commemorating the bicentenary of the birth of Bolivar than to ensure that the m e m o r y of his genius and of his work is linked, for all time, with those w h o today are the best representatives of that same spirit, and w h o are making an outstanding contribution to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity among nations by fostering their development or facilitating the advent of a new international' economic, social and cultural order. This was what Bolivar strove to achieve in his day, and for that reason he should be a source of inspiration, together w k h the other great m e n w h o have led the w a y in this universal quest for justice.

The Simón Bolívar Prize would be awarded for the first time on 24 July 1983, the date of the bicentenary, to a person or persons selected by an international jury from among those w h o , by their intellectual or artistic creativity, social achievements or influence on public opinion, have m a d e the most outstanding contribution to the great and universal endeavour for the furtherance of h u m a n dignity.

International Simón Bolívar Prize 11

M y Government will place sufficient funds in trust with Unesco to provide for the two-yearly awarding of this Prize.

I a m sure that you will be prepared to support this idea, and that with your backing it will be possible to obtain the approval of the Executive Board in due course, so that the International Simón Bolívar Prize m a y be finally sanctioned and established as a fresh affirmation of the spirit and purposes of which Unesco is the symbol in the eyes of all mankind.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of m y highest consideration and personal friendship.

Carlos Andrés Pérez President of Venezuela

Reply from

Amadou-Mahtar M ' B o w ,

Director-General of Unesco,

to Carlos Andrés Pérez,

President of Venezuela

Paris, 8 July 1978

H . E . Carlos Andrés Pérez President of the Republic of Venezuela Caracas

Sir, I have the greatest pleasure in replying to your cable of 3 July, in which, on behalf of your Government, you offer to establish the International Simón Bolívar Prize as an effective w a y of c o m m e m orating the bicentenary of the birth of the Liberator and also as the best w a y of linking his genius and his work, for all time, with those w h o today are the continuators and representatives of that same spirit, and w h o are making an outstanding contribution to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity a m o n g nations, by fostering their development and facilitating the quest for a n e w and fairer international economic, social and cultural order.

These purposes are in the closest possible accord with those defined in Unesco's Constitution and with m y o w n conception of what this Organization's action in the international field should be. I therefore intend to support your proposal before the Executive Board and to take all the necessary steps to ensure that practical effect is given toit.

Here at Headquarters appropriate consultations have taken place with their Excellencies D r José Luis Salcedo Bastardo, Minister of Cultural, Scientific and Technological Affairs, and Dr Arturo Uslar Pietri, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate, and agreement in prin-


ciple has been reached on the general lines for translating this proposal into concrete terms, by drawing up draft Statutes of the Prize which define its purpose, periodicity, amount, selection of prize-winners, jury and requisite conditions, and the procedure to be followed for the due awarding of the Prize.

Thank you for your generous proposal, which confirms once again the close co-operation existing between Venezuela and Unesco.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of m y highest and most cordial consideration.

Amadou-Mahtar M ' B o w Director-General of Unesco

DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

OF UNESCO

At the 105th session of the Executive Board, the Director-General of Unesco submitted the project to the Board, together with the following statement:

1. In a letter dated 3 July 1978, the President of the Republic of Venezuela suggested to the Director-General that an International Simón Bolívar Prize should be established, to be awarded every second year, as from 24 July 1983, the date of the second centenary of the birth of S imón Bolívar. This Prize should be awarded for activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of Simón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity a m o n g nations, or which has fostered their development or facilitated the quest for a new international economic, social and cultural order. The text of the above-mentioned letter is reproduced in Annex I to this document.

2 . The Director-General considers that this generous offer by the Venezuelan Government is in keeping with the objectives of the Constitution of the Organization, especially those set out in Article I, paragraph 1, and with resolution 9.1 on the establishment of a new international economic order and resolution 12.1 on Unesco's contribution to peace, adopted by the General Conference at its nineteenth session. The Director-General accordingly suggests that the Executive Board should authorize him to accept this offer and to approve the Statutes of the Prize as they are set out in Annex II to this document. Consultations with the representatives of the Government of Venezuela have been held concerning the draft statutes.

16 International Simón ßolivar Prize

3. It is also proposed that the Executive Board take note of the Financial Regulations for the Special Account set up by the Director-General to receive the funds contributed by the Venezuelan Government, the text of which is contained in Annex III to this document.

This statement was accompanied by a draft resolution which was discussed at the meeting held on 5 October 1978. Twenty-two members of the Executive Board spoke on the subject, fully supporting the establishment of the Prize and analysing both the meaning and scope of Simón Bolivar's ideals and the links between these ideals and the purposes of Unesco. The Statutes and Financial Regulations were also discussed and approved together with the relevant resolution (see pages 47-52). It has seemed desirable to reproduce in full the statement on the project made by Dr Arturo Uslar Pietri, member of the Executive Board and Permanent Delegate to Unesco of the Republic of Venezuela, which is offering the International Simón Bolívar Prize.

Statement by Arturo Uslar Pietri,

M e m b e r of the Executive Board

and Permanent Delegate to Unesco

of the Republic of Venezuela

Thank you, M r Chairman. Above all, I should like to express on m y o w n behalf and on that of the Venezuelan Government our very sincere gratitude for the friendly, favourable and positive attitude adopted towards the acceptance and carrying into effect of the idea embodied in the establishment of a Simón Bolívar Prize. I wish in particular to express m y gratitude to the Director-General, the Deputy Director-General and those officials of the Secretariat w h o have worked on this project with the greatest enthusiasm and goodwill, thus making it possible for all the complicated documentary and procedural steps to be completed in good time so that the subject could be considered, today, by the Programme and External Relations Committee of the Executive Board of Unesco.

This idea had a logical origin in the coincidence between the objectives of an international Organization such as Unesco and the work of a m a n such as Simón Bolívar. In many respects, in his action and in his thought, Bolivar heralded the spirit by which this Organization is inspired today and the significance it holds for all the peoples of the world.

Bolivar—I do not want to take up your time, but I think it essential to say briefly what he represents—is one of the outstanding figures of world history. H e is a precursor, a forerunner, an original and portentous incarnation of the spirit of peoples w h o had remained outside the stream of world history but w h o were to enter it completely, and fully determined that the axis, the core of history and the dialogue between its protagonists should be changed.

H e was a many-sided m a n w h o in the whole of his activity showed an extraordinary greatness. H e was a soldier with a long experience of war. During the struggle for independence, he was

18 International Simón Bolívar Prize

engaged for nearly fifteen years in continuous warfare which took him over vast tracts of country, from the shores of the Caribbean and the Orinoco River to the Pacific coast, to the Andean Sierra of Peru, to Lake Titicaca and to the heights of Potosí, whence he was able, as from a mirador, to span the whole South American continent. This action was crowned with military engagements and strategic conceptions of the highest order. It began with independence, with a long struggle for the independence of Venezuela and what was then k n o w n as Nueva Granada which, after m a n y years, was brought to a successful conclusion in 1824 at the battle of Ayacucho, in the Peruvian Sierra, thereby finally ensuring the independence of what are today Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Panama.

At this particular m o m e n t in 1824, Bolivar was in a sense the arbiter of the destiny of South America, and this prestige that he had acquired as the result of so valiant a struggle was allied to an exceptional political vision and clarity of thought.

H e was a m a n strongly influenced by the ideas of the French Revolution; a m a n in w h o m the thinking of the Encyclopaedists had found a deep resonance, w h o had read and thoroughly assimilated Montesquieu and Rousseau; a m a n w h o not only believed that those ideas were right but was the first to point out a problem that still exists today—namely, that a model could not simply be transferred; that it was not enough merely to take as a model the French Republic or the Republic that had been established in North America, to set it up on the banks of the Orinoco and expect it to function and create a modern society; but that it was necessary to take into account the factor which w e are seeing emerge today: the local cultural factor, the characteristics peculiar to each people, the w a y history had moulded them and what their particular traditions stood for. It is in this that Bolivar is far and away ahead of his time; in realizing these difficulties, in foreseeing them and in trying to solve them. His vision, moreover, embraced the continent as a whole.

H e was never merely the protagonist of independence for Venezuela or for Nueva Granada; he never thought for a m o m e n t in strictly national terms. H e thought that South America or Latin America, if it wished to play an important part in world affairs, ought to reach some form of collective understanding, some confederal form of existence, which would enable it to attain to that position. His first step, therefore, was to create, through the union of present-day Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, a n e w country called Colombia. Then, later on, when


with his victorious armies he marched from Ecuador into Peru and on into present-day Bolivia, he was seized with the idea of a general confederation of America, which should include all the Latin American peoples from Mexico to Argentina and also the United States, so that—in words which are almost the same as those w e use today—a n e w world order might be established.

Thus w e see what an extraordinary political prescience Bolivar had. His vision went far beyond nationalism, in regard not only to Latin America but to the Hispanic world in general, and from this Hispanic world on to a universal order in which all these new nations should play a full and important part.

M a y I trespass on your time for a m o m e n t to read you two or three very short quotations—which I feel sure will not fall on deaf ears in this House—illustrating Bolivar's way of thinking. His democratic ideals were firmly fixed. H e never compromised with dictatorship or with any attempt to set up monarchies in Latin America. H e thought that Latin America should be a Republic, if possible one vast country comprising the whole, or failing that, a confederation of States stretching from Mexico to Argentina. This conception even brought him to envisage Latin American unity in the following moving way: 'Our mother country is America'—not this or that country; and he believed that Latin American countries were destined to be united, or reunited, in a single block. From the very first this idea inspired him.

H e expressed it in 1815, almost at the beginning of his campaign. H e continually upheld the idea of freedom and of liberal institutions, as well as the idea of equality and social justice. In 1815, when he was in Jamaica, at a very difficult m o m e n t in his political struggle, and was making preparations to return to Venezuela, he expressed his concern for the slaves and his ardent hope that they would be given their freedom at a time when slavery was a more or less accepted institution and, in fact, remained so for decades in m a n y parts of the world. In 1819, when he set up a Congress on the banks of the Orinoco, he produced one of the greatest documents in Latin American political history, the so-called Angostura Message, containing these words which I propose to read out: 'Slavery has broken its fetters, and Venezuela finds herself surrounded by new children—grateful children w h o have converted the instruments of their captivity into weapons for freedom. If those w h o were previously slaves are n o w free m e n , those w h o were previously enemies of a harsh stepmother are n o w the defenders of a Mother Country .Salute the fact that the justice,


necessity and beneficence of this measure is greater than anything you have k n o w n it to mean since the days of the ancient helots, Spartacus and Haiti. For you k n o w that it is impossible to be at the same time free and a slave without infringing at the same time natural laws, political laws and just plain laws. ' A n d then he goes on to say in moving terms, adjuring the Congress to proclaim full and complete freedom for the slaves: 'I leave to your sovereign decision the reform or repeal of every one of m y statutes and decrees, but I implore you to confirm the absolute freedom of the slaves as I would implore for m y life or the life of the Republic.' That was said by Bolivar in 1819. A n d this ideal of social justice was never to leave him. W h e n , in 1825, he arrived triumphantly in Peru, where the old colonial structures still prevailed which had kept the indigenous population in a state of servitude for over three centuries, he issued a decree in Cuzco which is a monument of social justice and which in its preamble states that 'equality between all citizens is the constitutional basis of the Republic; this equality is incompatible with the personal service which the indigenous inhabitants have been forced to render or with the extortions and harsh treatment which, owing to their dire poverty, they have been made to suffer at all times by civil chiefs, parish priests, caciques and landowners'. The decree provides that no one in the State m a y exact personal service from native Peruvians either directly or indirectly. This put an end to three centuries during which the 'mita' and 'pongaje' had been practised, and represented profound social revolution brought about by Bolivar's overriding passion for justice and equality.

A s regards his ideal of co-operation and creation of a new international order, allow m e to quote to you two brief remarks of his. W h e n in Jamaica, in 1815, he expressed this prophetic vision of a world which at that time was divided up into hard and uncompromising nationalist elements: 'What a fine thing it would be if the Isthmus of P a n a m a were for us what that of Corinth was for the ancient Greeks! M a y the day c o m e w h e n w e shall have the good fortune to set up there an august congress of the representatives of republics, kingdoms and empires for considering and discussing the supreme interests of peace and war with the nations from other parts of the world.' This was a vision of the United Nations, proclaimed 130 years before that institution could be dreamt of as a reality. A n d later, after the victory of Ayacucho, when he was preparing to promote the Organization of American States, he reminded himself of that ancient Greek confederation and convened a Congress of all the American States in Panama,


where he addressed the Heads of State in these terms: 'Profoundly convinced of the truth of these ideas, in 1822, as President of the Republic of Colombia, I invited the Governments of Mexico, Peru, Chile and Argentina so that w e might form a confederation and convene in the Isthmus of Panama or any other place selected by majority vote an assembly of plenipotentiaries from each State which should serve as a Council in the case of serious conflicts, as a point of contact in the face of c o m m o n dangers, as a faithful interpreter with regard to public agreements when difficulties arise, and, lastly, as a reconciler of our differences. The day when our plenipotentiaries are prepared to exchange their powers, a marvellous age will have opened in the diplomatic history of America. W h e n , after one hundred centuries have elapsed, our descendants inquire into the origin of our public law and recall the treaties which consolidated their destiny, they will look with respect on the protocols of the Isthmus. There they will find the plan of the initial alliances which marked out the path followed in our relations with the whole world. H o w will the Isthmus of Corinth then be able to compare with that of Panama?' These considerations never left Bolivar's mind for a moment : they went even further, for he thought ahead of the very words w e use today, going so far as to say w h e n thinking of this n e w organization: 'There is another equilibrium, and one which concerns us, that of the world. This struggle can in no case be an individual one as it is criss-crossed by colossal interests scattered all over the world. ' Thus he believed that it was necessary to postulate the notion of liberty, democracy and social and political progress in world terms; and, to this end, the various peoples should unite under essentially wide and regional forms of union and set up an organization (which is eventually what happened up to a point with the United Nations), so that there they would have a forum, a place for the discussion and implementation of their social and political ideals.

Such is the m a n whose work w e call to mind at this m o m e n t and whose n a m e has been proposed by the Venezuelan Government to personify, on account of his m e m o r y , his example and his work, the establishment of this Prize, the idea of which has been so well received by the Director-General and the senior officials of the Secretariat.

W h a t is the purpose of this Prize? Its purpose is to keep alive the ideals that inspired Bolivar and, in the words of the project prepared by the Secretariat, to reward activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of Simón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening


of solidarity a m o n g nations, fostered their development or facilitated the quest for a n e w international economic, social and cultural order.

This Prize is offered by the Government of Venezuela through Unesco: Unesco will direct it, award it and decide as to its ultimate use. The Venezuelan authorities have confined themselves to suggesting the idea and providing the necessary funds in support of it. Consequently, as soon as the idea has received the approval of the Executive Board, the Government of Venezuela will place in trust with the Secretariat of Unesco funds in Venezuelan currency amounting to some 800,000 bolivars which, with the accumulated interest, will represent 200,000 dollars or so. This sum will remain in trust with Unesco in perpetuity, so that from the interest on it the Prize m a y be awarded every second year, the capital being retained in perpetuity or for as long as the award of the Prize is continued. A sum will thus be available, varying in amount certainly, depending on the interest on the capital at market rates, of about 20,000 to 30,000 dollars every second year. This will cover the expenses in connection with the Prize, leaving a s u m of over 20,000 dollars to be awarded as Prize, to a given individual or group of individuals.

The Prize is therefore an important one, on account both of the amount involved and, even more so, of its scope and significance. The Jury will be composed of seven members to be appointed by the Director-General of Unesco. It will include five members representing the five great cultural regions of the world and two additional m e m bers, one representing the Director-General and appointed by him, the other representing the Government of Venezuela and appointed by that Government. The decisions of the Jury will be adopted unanimously. The Jury will award the Prize every second year, and candidates will be proposed by Governments that are members of Unesco and by nongovernmental organizations having relations with Unesco. The Jury will then proceed to choose a candidate from among these official candidatures. The Prize will be awarded for the first time on 24 July 1983, the date of the bicentenary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator.

This, then, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the ideal behind the proposal submitted to you. I feel sure that it will meet with your favourable attention. I have already received m a n y expressions of support, goodwill and congratulation in connection with it, so that 1 have every reason to be optimistic about its fate at the hands of the Executive Board of Unesco.


I should like to repeat that the purpose in view is simply that Bolivar, w h o was a forerunner in the service of those universal ideals for which today Unesco stands, m a y continue in the foreseeable future to play an active part in Unesco's service by inspiring that same struggle, which today is that of the Third World, that for a new international economic order, that for greater justice and for closer bonds between all m e n and all peoples. That is what Bolivar fought for, and that is what this Prize, through Unesco, is designed to represent.

Thank you, M r Chairman.

Some views expressed

by members of the Executive Board

After Ambassador Us lar Pietri's statement, several members of the Executive Board spoke on the subject, in the following order:

Paulo E . de BerrêdoCarneiro, Brazil; Horacio J. Bustamante, Panama; Luis Echeverría, Mexico; Julio Le Riverend, Cuba; Esteban E . Torres, United States of America; Paul Denis, Belgium; Gonzalo Abad Gri-jalva, Ecuador; Werner Bahner, German Democratic Republic; Valentin Lipatti, Romania; Eugenia Krassowska, Poland; Timothée Nga-koutou, Chad; Kustijah Prodjolalito, Indonesia; Edmundo Libid, Philippines; Alberto Wagner de Reyna, Peru; Vladimir A . Karpuchine, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; David J. Church, United Kingd o m ; François Valéry, France; Hassan Muraywid, Syrian Arab Republic; Arthur Bagunywa, Uganda; Alberto Melo, Portugal; Tsien Li Yen, China; Arthur T . Porter, Sierra Leone.

/ / has seemed desirable to reproduce some of the views expressed by the above speakers. However, for reasons of space it has not been possible to include all of them nor the speeches themselves in full, and so the following extracts are confined to those paragraphs that best illustrate the subject in question.


Origin of the Bolivar ian ideal

That young Venezuelan, about 1807, climbed one of the hills in R o m e (perhaps the Aventine) to pledge himself to dedicate his life to the independence and freedom of the Latin American countries, up to then under the yoke of the Spanish Empire. The gesture of this romantic young m a n has something decidedly Byronic or Shelleyesque about it, or could well have been that of one of the great French romantics w h o , a little later on, were to spread all over the world an enthusiasm for dedication to the great social causes of which they had awakened an awareness.

Bolivar's military genius

This young Venezuelan might also be compared to one of the young generals of the French Revolution, in the heroic days of a Hoche and a Marceau, w h o when barely 20 commanded huge improvised armies and were the brilliant creators of a military force. H e also had something about him of a D o n Quixote—that paragon of Spanish magnanimity and chivalry. Something in him, too, reminds us of the picture w e have in our minds of Bayard, the knight without fear and without reproach.

Bolivar's significance in America

Bolivar was strongly influenced by the French Revolution and its ideology was what concerned him in the great thinkers of the eighteenth century. H e read Condorcet and Diderot. His ideals had a profound effect on the N e w World. Each of our countries has its o w n particular national hero, its liberator, the m a n w h o , at a given moment , mustered the living forces of the country round him so as to achieve independence and set up a republic. All those national heroes are represented in the person of Bolivar.

Paulo E . de Berrêdo Carneiro Brazil


Bolívar and Latin American man

W h e n Simón Bolivar's name is mentioned, it is hard to explain what w e w h o hail from his continent feel about him: it is a mixture of love, admiration, enthusiasm and, perhaps—and that is not saying too much—what a son feels when speaking about his father. H o w could it be otherwise when speaking of a m a n possessed of such willpower and so fully determined to carry out his task—no matter what obstacles might stand in his way—that, when Caracas was destroyed by an earthquake, he made the famous remark that if Nature opposed him and his troops he would beat Nature.

What the Prize stands for

The Simón Bolívar Prize, besides being a tribute to the hero of A m e rica, is a symbol reminding us of the great ideals of Unesco and of the need for each of us to help carry them out. The Prize will be a magnificent way of drawing worldwide attention to Unesco's objectives and at the same time honouring the memory of the m a n w h o accomplished one of the greatest epics in history.

Horacio J. Bustamante Panama

International Simón Bolívar Prize n

Current relevancy of Bolívar's ideals

Bolivar's example and message have a distinct relevancy in the anti-imperialist struggles of our time, and his outstanding genius is projected in a practical and profitable w a y in the struggles for economic freedom of the Latin American, African, Arab and Asian countries suffering from the consequences of imperialist intervention. Bolivar's example and message still guide us on our w a y .

In the various regions of the Third World, practical and useful attempts are being m a d e that are of Bolivarian inspiration. In Latin America, 'the disunited States of the South', w e are trying to set up a Latin American economic system.

W h a t would Bolivar do today, faced with the objectives of the transnational companies of the great industrial countries? H o w would he deal with capital and technology, which propose models of development for us that are incompatible with the endogenous independent type of development which w e in Unesco have envisaged for the poor countries? H e would tell us to unite, to put aside our personal quarrels, to fight against our small oligarchies which are often hand-in-glove with foreign interests, to be shrewd enough to forestall coups a" état and devaluations due to the flight of foreign capital, so as to give a chance to the best a m o n g the rising generation in the struggle waged by Latin America, the Arab countries, the African countries and m a n y Asian countries.

Significance of the Prize

M y words are merely intended to express the hope that whoever competes for this Prize so generously proposed by that great country Venezuela, which gave us Bolivar and continues to promote Latin American solidarity, m a y be conversant with the political and economic requirements of our peoples—our peoples that w e continue to call 'developing'. W e have to ask ourselves whether it is being in a state of 'developing' to see the increase in external debt which affects all the Third World countries, including several petrol-producing countries, due to the notable imbalance with the industrial world at large, whether it is being in a state of 'developing' to see the increase in illiteracy, to see the number of unemployed in an international system characterized by commercial inequity.

This Prize leads us, I think, to ask ourselves some practical and


useful questions like the foregoing, and will surely act as a stimulus for applying in the context of our times what should for us be the import of the message of remarkable m e n such as Bolivar.

Luis Echeverría Mexico


Importance of the Prize

Every effort on behalf of the great truths and virtues pertaining to m e n and to peoples will always be fruitful: h o w m u c h more so will be a Prize inspired by the truths and virtues of the most eminent hero of the struggle for the emancipation of Latin America, from the formative time of the nineteenth century—a hero all the more eminent in that m a n y of his essential ideals and purposes are of inspirational value to us today.

Applicability of Bolivar's ideals

M u c h of what Bolivar did, m u c h of what he said, is present in the history that not only w e Latin Americans but m e n all over the world in pursuit of freedom have m a d e and must go on making. That is where his greatness lies—a lasting greatness n o w , on the eve of his bicentenary, and later, while in our o w n and other countries there are international relations to settle, injustices to be repaired, freedom to be conquered. His political writings of a prophetic nature are on a par with his military genius and his capacity as a leader of peoples. From among these documents, w e must single out one of the first to grace the history of the American Continent—the Charter of Jamaica of 1815. It contains the project of continental union as a step towards an effective confederation, and in it Bolivar puts forward as an essential part of his continental Latin American concept the inclusion of Cuba and Puerto Rico in the plan for emancipation. H e aimed at the complete eradication of the old colonialism which had existed for so long in our countries. F r o m this point of view, he is the ever-to-be-remembered initiator of Latin American solidarity.

Bolivar and Marti

Marti, our Cuban leader of independence in the nineteenth century, followed the road marked out by Bolivar, pointing out that the struggle for American freedom in the face of new forces trying to reinstate colonialism was necessary for the achievement of a balanced world.

Julio Le Riverend C u b a


Bolívar and the United States

S o m e of you here m a y k n o w that in m y country, the United States, Simón Bolívar is regarded not merely as a Latin American hero but as a hero of ours too—a hero of America as a whole. Anyone w h o visits our capital, Washington, will see that there is a big square there with Simón Bolivar's statue, because he represents for us the image of the American leader. W e have been told that he drew his inspiration from the French Revolution, the Mexican Revolution and other revolutions that have upheld the dignity of the Latin American peoples; but w e know that Bolivar also took examples from our o w n Revolution. It is well k n o w n that he exchanged information and correspondence with the leaders of our country.

Esteban E . Torres United States of America


Manifold nature of Bolívar

Bolívar, a m a n belonging to the élite of the colony, was capable of going against the interests of the colonial power and fighting to achieve independence. His family origins by no means prevented him from understanding the problem of the time, which for us consisted in gaining our freedom. H e was inspired, moreover, by the principle of the French Revolution and also by the United States Declaration of Independence.

H e organized what were later to be known as International Brigades. For example, British volunteers helped us in our struggle for independence. H e greatly admired the way in which the British were organized and drew practical and political support from them. H e managed moreover to get m e n hailing from different parts of America to join the liberating armies.

Bolivar w o n the support of the Creole élite, but he was above all a leader of the people: the peasants, that is to say the Indians; the Negro slaves; the poor and wretched; the 'marginals'—all these flocked to him. Bolivar's armies were indeed a miracle brought about by one m a n ' s willpower, created by him to shape a new type of America.

Bolivar and Spain

Although he found himself fighting against the power of the mother country, he never renounced his Spanish origin, for he considered that Spanish culture formed part of our o w n culture.

Bolivar and women

It was not in theory that Bolivar recognized the value of w o m e n but in practice, by loving them. But in so loving them, not only were they able to share his private life but were given the chance of fighting for independence. Such was the case, for instance, with Manuela Sáenz of Ecuador, w h o gave up everything so as to follow Bolivar. But, once at his side, she helped to guide, supervise and direct the struggle for freedom.

Bolivar and the Third World

Thus, in recalling the m e m o r y of Bolivar, as a m a n , as a political


leader, and as a visionary, w e must express our gratitude to the President of Venezuela w h o has wished to pay tribute to Bolivar at a time when the Third World is calling for the setting up of a new international order.

Gonzalo Abad Grijalva Ecuador


Bolívar and Unesco

Bolivar's notion of a confederation needs to be stressed, especially in relation to the ideals of Unesco. The confederation in question is not in the sense of expansion but in the sense that, once the foundations of a n e w order of social justice have been laid, a fully consolidated peace needs to be established. W e find this idea portrayed in the French Enlightenment and in the Swiss model.

I think that Bolivar is of great importance not only for the countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa but also for Europe. Thanks to Bolivar, w e are better able to expound our ideals and to carry out the programme of our Organization.

Werner Bahner G e r m a n Democratic Republic


Personality of Bolívar

There is no doubt that in his ideas and in his action Simón Bolívar is a great pioneer figure, in respect not only of the Latin America countries but of .the whole of mankind. Hence the award of the International Simón Bolívar Prize to those w h o have m a d e an outstanding contribution to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity among nations and the establishment of a n e w international order will have special significance for Unesco's action throughout the world.

Valentin Lipatti Romania


The Prize and Unesco

The Simón Bolívar Prize bears the n a m e of the Liberator w h o declared war to the bitter end on the colonial system and was a forerunner of the modern policy of social progress. This prize goes beyond the scope of other prizes so far awarded by Unesco, which relate to some special field of our activities. The Simón Bolívar Prize, on the other hand, embraces what is fundamental in Unesco's activities, includes all the major objectives of our Organization and is directly linked with the purposes set forth in its Constitution. In the light of the trials and tribulations of our o w n history, w e Poles take Bolivar's ideals and action particularly to heart.

I consider that every effort should be m a d e by the National Commissions to spread a knowledge of the International Simón Bolívar Prize, especially with a view to acquainting young people with its educational and ideological values.

Eugenia Krassowska Poland


Values associated with Bolívar

I should like to pay a respectful and well-deserved tribute to Simón Bolívar, w h o is the symbol of the ideals of freedom, equality and independence and w h o also represents the ideals at whose service w e place ourselves today. For most of our young people of the Third World, Bolivar is a living symbol with which they identify themselves.

Timothée Ngakoutou Chad


Unanimous decision

T h e International Simón Bolívar Prize is clearly designed to reward activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of Simón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity among nations, fostered their development or facilitated the quest for a new international economic, social and cultural order. In view of this, our delegation considers that in selecting the winners of the Prize, a unanimous decision is essential.

Kustijah Prodjolalito Indonesia


Bolivar's shadow

In 1825, Simón Bolívar (at that time President of Peru) came to Cuzco to receive the homage of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. In the cathedral chapter, a priest called José de Choquehuanca advanced to meet him and in a short speech dwelt on the Liberator's providential mission. H e ended with this pithy expression: 'Sir', he said, 'your glory will increase with the years, as the shadows lengthen when the sun goes d o w n . ' It was a prophetic utterance. After Bolivar death, more or less as an exile in Santa Marta, overlooking the Caribbean—that very sea in which he said he had ploughed—his figure began to take on stature and his true dimensions as a statesman, a strategist and a m a n began to be recognized.

T h e shadow of Bolivar, to follow Choquehuanca's line of thought, projected over America, on behalf of whose unity he convened, from Lima, the Congress of Panama; it is projected over the future through the Prize that has been set up and, above all, it is projected over the hearts of millions of m e n and w o m e n in the N e w World w h o for the past 150 years have owed him their freedom and dignity. Bolivar's shadow is a luminous shadow, for it is composed of glory.

Alberto Wagner de Reyna Peru -


Bolívar and youth

The n a m e of this heroic personage is respected and loved in the Soviet Union, where he is placed on a level with José Martí, Camilo Cienfue-gos and Salvador Allende. A book entitled Bolivar was recently published in the Soviet Union, and the point which deserves to be noted is that it forms part of a collection specially designed for young people, in which works on famous m e n are very popular and widely read. The book is hard to find, however, for the very reason that it is so successful and has so ready a sale.

Bolivar's qualities

In Bolivar w e celebrate the famous m a n w h o vigorously denounced Russian tsarism, the champion of independence for the peoples of Latin America and of the abolition of slavery, the theoretician and organizer of national renaissance and of the union of the Latin American peoples, and the forerunner of the revolutionary and democratic theory and practice of José Martí—that inspired son of Cuba and of Latin America.

Vladimir A . Karpuchine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics


Bolívar and the United Kingdom

The achievement and ideals of Simón Bolívar are a continuing matter of pride to m y country, not only because, like other contemporary patriots, he drew inspiration from our early romantic poets such as Byron and Shelley, but also because some of m y countrymen took part in Bolivar's campaigns for freeing America.

The Prize

W e are also very grateful to the Government of Venezuela for its imaginative and generous gesture which has made it possible to establish this Prize, and w e hope that the M e m b e r States and other bodies concerned with the selection of candidates will show a similar degree of imagination in their choice of the latter.

David J. Church United Kingdom


Bolívar' s positive personality

Everything that has been said about Bolivar has been at the same time interesting, illuminating and spontaneous. W h a t has impressed m e is that he belonged to an age when magnanimity, whether in the sphere of the spirit or in that of action, was virtually operating freely and in a nascent state, not yet cornered by any systems. There was nothing negative about this great m a n . I think this is what has impressed m e most from a m o n g the comments m a d e at this meeting. I believe that Bolivar's personality was entirely positive, and there are not m a n y examples of this in history.

François Valéry France


The Arab Peoples and Bolívar

W e Arabs share with our Latin American brothers the esteem and respect which they feel for this great historical figure. W e , therefore, take advantage of the opportunity given us to support this draft resolution.

Hassan Muraywid Syrian Arab Republic


Bolívar, world hero

Simón Bolivar's n a m e has so far been invoked as a Latin American hero, as the hero of oppressed and colonized countries. I should like to add that w e consider Bolivar to be a world hero, not only a liberator of colonized countries, but also a liberator of the colonizing countries, because w e think that no people can be free while it oppresses other peoples. Allow m e , therefore, to pay tribute here and n o w , in the figure of S imón Bolívar, to all the liberators in America, Africa and Asia w h o have fought for the freedom of all nations.

Alberto Melo Portugal

44 International Simón Bolivar Prize

Bolívar and national dignity

Simón Bolívar is not only a hero of Latin America but also a heroic figure for all peoples struggling for their independence, freedom and national dignity. I consider therefore that the gesture made by the Government of Venezuela is of great value and has a special relevance for the Asian peoples, the Third World peoples and, in fact, all peoples fighting for their national dignity.

Tsien Li Y e n China


International character of struggles for independence

Bolivar was a visionary. The struggles are still with us. There are places where today's problems are not dissimilar from those Bolivar encountered in Latin America. In these places w e again find some w h o , although from outside the region, bring their inspiration, courage and energy to bear on the situation. M e n like Bolivar show that foreigners can m a k e as valid contributions to the cause of freedom as those made by the local inhabitants.

Arthur T . Porter Sierra Leone

DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board,

1. Having examined document 105 E X / 2 1 concerning the International Simón Bolívar Prize to be awarded every second year, starting on 24 July 1983, the bicentenary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, to those w h o have m a d e an outstanding contribution to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity a m o n g nations, or w h o have fostered their development or facilitated the quest for a n e w international economic, social and cultural order,

2. Considering that the purposes of the Prize coincide with those of Unesco as they are defined in its Constitution and with those established by resolutions 9.1 and 12.1 adopted by the General Conference at its nineteenth session (Nairobi 1976),

3. Authorizes the Director-General to accept the generous offer of the Venezuelan Government to establish an international prize which will be financed from funds provided by that Government;

4 . Approves the statutes of the International Simón Bolívar Prize appended in Annex I to this decision;

5. Takes note of the Financial Regulations, appended in Annex II, governing the Special Account opened for that Prize;

6. Invites the Director-General: (a) to convey the gratitude of the Executive Board to the Venezuelan Government; (b) to inform the General Conference of die establishment and characteristics of the

48 International Simón Bolivar Prize

Prize, at the same time requesting M e m b e r States, National C o m m i s sions and non-govemmental organizations to give it all their support and to submit candidatures w h e n the appropriate time comes; (c) to take all appropriate steps, through the competent sectors of the Secretariat and its press and other information organs, its Regional Offices and representatives throughout the world, through the appropriate channels, to ensure that the International Simón Bolívar Prize receives wide publicity, so that w h e n it is awarded consideration m a y be given to all those persons or institutions of outstanding merit in the activities which the Prize is designed to encourage and support.

STATUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL

SIMÓN BOLÍVAR PRIZE

1. Purpose

The purpose of the International Simón Bolívar Prize (hereinafter called 'the Prize') is to reward activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of Simón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of a new international economic, social and cultural order. Such activity m a y take the form of intellectual or artistic creation, a social achievement or the mobilization of public opinion.

2. Periodicity

The Prize shall be awarded by the Director-General of Unesco (hereinafter called 'the Director-General') at an official public meeting which shall be held every two years, on 24 July, or on a day very close to that date. The Prize shall be awarded for the first time on 24 July 1983, the date of the bicentenary of the birth of Simón Bolívar.

3. Amount

The Prize shall consist of a sum the amount of which shall be determined by the Director-General in agreement with the Government of Venezuela. This sum shall be obtained from the interest yielded by a Special Account (hereinafter called 'the account') set up by the Director-General, in accordance with the financial regulations of Unesco, with funds contributed by the Government of Venezuela for that purpose. The investment of these funds shall be carried out in accordance with the procedures proposed by Unesco and approved by the Government of Venezuela.


4. Selection of prize-winners

The prize-winners shall be selected by an international jury, whose decision must be unanimous.

5. Jury

The Jury shall consist of seven members: five eminent persons representing the various regions of the world, appointed in a personal and honorary capacity by the Director-General for a period of four years; one eminent person appointed by the Government of Venezuela; one representative of the Director-General. The Jury shall adopt its Rules of Procedure unanimously. The Director-General shall convene the Jury and prepare the agenda of its meeting. The Director-General shall designate a m e m b e r of the Secretariat of Unesco to act as Secretary to the Jury. The cost of meetings of the Jury shall be met from the Account.

6. Requirements

The Prize shall be awarded to one or more individuals or institutions for each of w h o m a candidature has been submitted by the government of a M e m b e r State or Associate M e m b e r of Unesco, by an intergovernmental organization, or by a non-governmental organization having consultative and associate relations (category A ) or information and consultative relations (category B ) with Unesco.

Should the Jury not reach a unanimous decision in favour of any of the candidatures submitted, it m a y take into consideration any other candidature submitted to it by at least two of its members.

7. Duration

The Prize shall be established for an unlimited duration. If the Government of Venezuela and Unesco should decide to discontinue awarding the Prize, the liquid assets in the Account shall be returned to the Venezuelan authorities concerned, after deduction of any expenses remaining unpaid at the time of the discontinuance of the Prize.

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE SPECIAL ACCOUNT

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SIMÓN BOLÍVAR PRIZE

1. Creation of the Special Account

In accordance with Articles 6.6 and 6.7 of the Financial Regulations of Unesco, there is hereby created a Special Account to be known as the 'Special Account for the International Simón Bolívar Prize' hereinafter called the 'Special Account'.

2. Purpose of the Account

In accordance with its Statutes, the International Simón Bolívar Prize shall be awarded for outstanding contributions to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the establishment of a new international economic, social and cultural order. It is the purpose of this Special Account to receive funds that will be invested to yield interest, from which the International Simón Bolívar Prize will be awarded. The Prize will be awarded every second year, starting on 24 July 1983, date of the second centenary of the birth of Simón Bolívar.

3. Income

The Special Account shall be credited with contributions from the Government of Venezuela and with the interest earned from the investment of such contributions.

4. Expenditure

The Special Account shall be debited with the payment or payments


m a d e to the winner or winners of the International Simón Bolívar Prize, and with administrative costs, including expenditure incurred in holding meetings of the international Jury responsible for the choice of the prize-winner(s). Expenditure shall be limited to the amount of interest earned and carried forward from year to year.

5. Accounts

(a) the financial period shall be identical with that of the Regular Programme of Unesco;

(b) the operations of the Special Account shall be the object of separate accounting and shall be included in the Financial Report of the Director-General;

(c) any unused balance at the end of the financial period shall be carried forward to the following financial period;

(d) the accounts of the Special Account shall be kept in dollars of the United States of America; subsidiary accounts m a y be kept in other currencies as required;

(e) the accounts shall be presented for audit to the External Auditors of Unesco.

6. Investment

In accordance with Articles 9.1 and 9.2 of the Financial Regulations of Unesco, the Director-General is authorized to invest funds standing to the credit of the Special Account. The investments made shall be in accordance with a policy proposed by Unesco and approved by the Government of Venezuela. Interest derived from these investments shall be credited to the Special Account in accordance with Unesco's rules and procedures.

7. General provision

The application of these Regulations shall be without prejudice to the general provisions of the Financial Regulations of Unesco.

8. Closing down of the Account

The Director-General shall decide on the closing d o w n of the Account at such time as he deems its operation is no longer necessary.

RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE

In accordance with paragraph 6 (b) of the decision of the Executive Board, the twentieth session of the General Conference of Unesco, held in Paris from 24 October to 28 November 1978, was informed of the establishment of the International Simón Bolívar Prize (item 12 of the agenda, document 20C/PRG.IVIINF.1, of 6 November 1978).

We consider it useful to reproduce the speech made on this occasion by Ambassador Raúl María Pereira, Head of the Peruvian Delegation, and, lastly, the text of the resolution adopted by the General Conference.

Speech by

Ambassador Raúl María Pereira,

Head of the Peruvian Delegation

Ladies and Gentlemen: Y o u must have before you document 2 0 C / P R G . I V / I N F . 1 with Annexes I and II, concerning the establishment of this prize unanimously approved by the Executive Board at its 105th meeting, in response to the generous offer of the Venezuelan Government.

M r Chairman, I a m convinced that few subjects will meet with the same unanimous accord of the Commission as this one. The personality of the great Liberator, Simón Bolívar, in fact, transcends the bounds of the American hemisphere, attains world stature and adumbrates with remarkable perspicacity several aspects of what was to be future history—events which marked the years following upon his action in the cause of freedom.

At the Congress of Panama, Bolivar proclaimed human rights and the self-determination of peoples; he tried to bring about the union of Hispanic America to strengthen it in the face of c o m m o n enemies; in 1819, at the Congress of Angostura (today Ciudad Bolívar), he called for the establishment of a fourth Power—moral power—with the task of preparing w o m e n to play a greater part in the education of their children; his work, his influence, permeated the whole continent. Bolivar, with his political vision and great human qualities, anticipated what w e m a y call, particularly in Unesco, the new international order, which, in the most important aspects of human relations, he encouraged.

For all these reasons, M r Chairman, the International Simón Bolívar Prize is the best possible tribute that could be paid to Bolivar; it is at the same time, in the annals of Unesco, an action whose repercussions will have the most widespread effect.

M y delegation, representing one of Bolivar's countries, feels


itself honoured in supporting the establishment of the Prize which bears the n a m e of the great military leader in the cause of freedom and political leader in the building of a free and sovereign America.

Text of the resolution

of the General Conference

The General Conference,

Having examined the decision unanimously adopted by the Executive Board at its 105th session to establish the International Simón Bolívar Prize, to be awarded every second year, starting on 24 July 1983, the bicentenary of the birth of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, to the person or persons w h o have m a d e an outstanding contribution, by their action, creative work or particularly meritorious activity, to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of solidarity a m o n g nations, fostering development and facilitating the quest for a n e w international economic, social and cultural order,

Considering that the purposes of the Prize coincide with those of Unesco as they are defined in its Constitution and with those established by resolutions 9.1 and 12.1 adopted by the General Conference at its nineteenth session (Nairobi, 1976),

Taking into account the M e m b e r States' approval and financial end o w m e n t of the Prize, as well as the considerable contribution made by the Government of Venezuela to enable it to be awarded in perpetuity,

Welcoming the Director-General's recommendation that the Prize and its objectives should be more widely disseminated and reaffirming its desire to promote any action likely to strengthen the independence of peoples, the recognition of their dignity and the establishment of a n e w international order,

Recognizing in Simón Bolívar and his work a great world figure w h o


anticipated and inspired the aspirations of the n e w nations towards full enjoyment of their rights,

1. Expresses its satisfaction at the establishment of the International S i m ó n Bolívar Prize;

2. Invites the Director-General to take the measures necessary to ensure the widest possible dissemination and recognition of this initiative;

3. Invites all M e m b e r States, non-governmental organizations concerned and National Commissions to give the utmost publicity to this initiative in order to ensure that it has the greatest effect so that w h e n it is awarded consideration m a y be given to all those persons or institutions w h o might be candidates for the Prize through their outstanding achievements in those activities which the Prize is intended to encourage and support.

[C]CC.79/D.115/A

international simón bolívar prize; 1979 -...

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