Within framework of his visit to the 39th session of UNESCO’s General Conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, Eladio Loizaga, handed today to the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, the National Order of Merit “Don José Falcón”. The Director-General received this distinction in recognition of “her contribution, her great work and her continuous efforts in favor of the cooperation between the Republic of Paraguay and the Organization."

During the award ceremony, held on 10 November at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, Foreign Minister Loizaga underscored that the commitment and “sincere friendship that the Director-General has forged with Paraguay over the years”, are reflected in the numerous common initiatives and in the official visit the Director-General undertook to Paraguay in June 2016.

In turn, the Director-General highlighted the active participation of Paraguay in the Executive Board of UNESCO, of which it is a member since 2015 and until 2019. 

In particular, the Director-General referred to the "the collaboration with the three branches of Paraguay, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, to advance freedom of expression and the safety of journalists", and their "active participation in UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme, through the International Center of Hydro-informatics for the integrated management of water resources created within the ITAIPÚ Binacional".

At the award ceremony, in addition to the Minister, his secretary, Carlos Ruckelshaussen, the head of international visits of the Ministry, Américo Cajes, and Leticia Casati, Minister and Chargée d'Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Delegation of Paraguay to UNESCO and Sila Estigarribia, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Paraguay, were also present.