The 35^th session of the General Conference of UNESCO has endorsed the list of anniversaries worldwide, which will be held in  association and with the support of UNESCO in 2010-2011. The following three anniversaries, proposed by Georgia have been included into this prestigious list:

• 1. 150^th anniversary of birth of Vazha Pshavela;
• 2. 1000^th anniversary of the commencement of construction of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral;
• 3. 100^th anniversary of birth of Vakhtang Chabukiani.

The 35^th General Conference decided that in 2010-2011 only 63 dates worldwide are in consistence with the Organization`s criteria and are  jubilees of such great personalities or events, which contributed to world culture, education and science.

The concrete action plan and projects concerning the celebration events will be elaborated by the concerned Georgian authorities and presented to UNESCO in 2010.

In the framework of UNESCO 35^th General Conference the elections in different governing and subsidiary bodies of the Organization were held. Georgia has gained seats for four years term in the Council of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE) and the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC).

The Council of the International Bureau of Education (IBE) is the UNESCO subsidiary body, which works in partnership with governments, international organizations, NGOs and academic institutions, and provides technical assistance, training, policy support and a wide range of information resources. IBE Council consists of 28 Member States.

The Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC) consists of 36 Member States. Intergovernmental Committee examines the advice and recommendations of the International Bioethics Committee, including those concerned with the follow-up of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights, Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights and the Universal Declaration on Human Genetic Data.

On October 23, 2009 the last day of the UNESCO 35^th General Conference was held the investiture ceremony of the UNESCO newly elected Director-General, Mrs. Irina Bokova,  the former Ambassador of Bulgaria in the Republic of France and in UNESCO.  On October, 15, 166 Member States supported Mrs. Bokova`s candidature as the Director-General of the Organization to replace Mr. Matsuura, serving on this post for ten years. Irina Bokova will be the first women  and  the first representative of the Eastern Europe to lead the UN specialized agency, UNESCO.  Her programme priority is the promotion of "new humanism", which means aspiring of peace, democracy, justice and human rights. Irina Bokova stated that cultural diversity and inter- cultural dialogue will contribute to emergence of this "new humanism. "

From 6^th to 23^rd of October, 2009, the 35 the session of UNESCO General Conference was held in Paris. More than 3000 participants from 193 Member States, including 8 Heads of States and some  260 ministers attended the session.

The 35^th session if the General Conference adopted the programme and budget for 2010-2011, reviewed Medium-Term Strategy (2008-2013) and elected the next Director-General. The General Conference adopted the Director-General`s proposal of US$653 million budget, with US$118.5 million for education, which remains the top priority of the Organization. In Education programmes the priority was given to issues of literacy, teachers and technical and vocational skills development. In the social and human sciences the Conference asked for an examination of the advisability of preparing a draft universal declaration of ethical principles in relation to climate change. US$ 53 million was allocated for culture sector, with the following priority areas: protecting, safeguarding and managing the tangible and intangible heritage, and promoting diversity of cultural expressions, languages and multilingualism and the dialogues of cultures. The Member States were also asked to actively participate in the celebration of the International Year for the Raproachment of Cultures (2010). The General Confernce also asked the Communication and Information sector (US$33 million budget) to pursue its work in defense of press freedom.

Two ministerial round tables, a ministerial Forum, Youth and Partners' Forums, also the meeting culture, communication, education, science, administrative and other commissions were held in the framework of the 35^th General Conference.

17^th General Assembly of State Parties to the World Heritage Convention was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in October 23-28. Georgian delegation headed by Mr. Nikoliz Vacheishvili, General Director of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, participated in the event.

Georgian delegation met with the representatives of the World Heritage Center and discussed important issues concerning Georgian sites inscribed on the World Heritage List.

The Assembly elected 12 new members, Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Mexico, Russian Federation, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and United Arab Emirates, to the World Heritage Committee to serve a mandate of four years.

The World Heritage Committee, which is responsible for the implementation of the Convention, meets once a year and reviews requests by States Parties to inscribe new cultural and natural heritage on the World Heritage List as well as the state of conservation of sites already inscribed. Its next session will take place from 25 July to 03 August, 2010.

The General Assembly drew its attention to the following topics:  the relationship between Convention, conservation and sustainable development; the public image of the Convention; helping States to develop skill needed to look after their heritage; ensure cooperation between activities and programmes concerning the 1972 Convention and UNESCO's other related standard-setting instruments and activities.