Paris, 16 October – The Permanent Delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to UNESCO awarded the Simón Bolívar Medal to the Republic of Cuba, in recognition of the valuable technical support and sustained cooperation provided by Cuba within the framework of the Organization, which proved fundamental to significant achievements attained by Venezuela during the current biennium.
The distinction was conferred by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Venezuela to UNESCO, Rodulfo Pérez Hernández, upon the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Cuba to UNESCO, María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Paris.
During the event, Ambassador Pérez Hernández emphasized that the technical and political support of the Cuban Delegation was decisive in achieving high-impact results for Venezuela within UNESCO, including the designation of two Category 2 Centres, positioning the country within a space of greater scientific and cultural projection at the regional and international levels.
Among these achievements is the recognition of the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, as well as the designation of the Biotechnological Centre for the Production of Agamic Seeds (CEBISA), also as a Category 2 Centre, with a focus on Open Science and biotechnology, in support of food sovereignty for peoples.
Cuba’s support for the inclusion of the strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities on the Organization’s agenda was also highlighted, as an expression of the shared commitment to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development-oriented UNESCO.
In expressing her appreciation for the distinction, Ambassador María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro underscored that this recognition honors the profound historical ties of solidarity, cooperation, and brotherhood that unite Cuba and Venezuela, as well as the convergence of both nations in the defense of multilateralism and the founding principles of UNESCO.
The Simón Bolívar Medal constitutes one of the highest distinctions awarded by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and symbolizes the values of independence, dignity, and commitment to the just causes of the peoples of Our America.