Our bus was caught in total traffic anarchy. Unperturbed, the Guide continued to talk with ardor, holding the microphone with one hand and gesticulating with the other.

My farewell party is the last and, therefore, the most recent event which took place during my life at Unesco. And yet, it is a most foggy and confused recollection. The latter part of the evening is especially blurred, even though the party keeps haunting my thoughts. It all happened as in a dream.

Unesco, like the United Nations, was born in the aftermath of the Second World War. Its constitution was ratified on the 4th of November 1946 by the twenty Founding Member States who signed the solemn declaration: ” Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed…” The purpose of the Organization was defined as ” To contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture…” The number of Member States increased from 20 in 1946 to 184 in 1995.