The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference continues in Samarkand.

At the meeting, the President of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini, who is on a working visit to Uzbekistan, delivered a speech.

“Today, as the world is changing, we are meeting in the historic city of Samarkand, located at the crossroads of cultures”, said Peter Pellegrini. “Historical traditions and values are disappearing, while international law, the foundation of the global order, is under pressure. In such circumstances, UNESCO remains a unique platform that preserves values by connecting them with contemporary life and practice. Multilateral cooperation among states is not a luxury or a display of power, but a necessity.

As a former Minister of Education, I would like to emphasize that education is the path to peace for all nations of our planet. It teaches not only knowledge, but also respect, tolerance, and kindness. Without education, there is no peace, and without peace, there is no progress. This is why Slovakia supports UNESCO’s new program ‘Education for Peace’. It revives this true idea. Education can transform lives and societies, it is not merely a policy, but an investment in peace and the human spirit.

We aim to reform the system to make it more inclusive, creative, and future-oriented. We are training teachers and developing digital skills so that young people can look to the future with confidence. To this end, we plan to host a Global Forum on Education and Artificial Intelligence in Bratislava at the end of November, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. There, we will exchange views on artificial intelligence. We believe that artificial intelligence should be regarded both as an opportunity and as a challenge. In this regard, we support UNESCO’s initiatives on the use of artificial intelligence in schools and society, as well as on developing clear ethical values in this field. Because rules protect people, they do not hinder progress. Slovakia will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, maintaining this balance so that our schools remain humane and our technologies responsible. UNESCO has always defended humanity’s soul and culture. A careful attitude toward both tangible and intangible heritage enables us to preserve our identity and diversity”.

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G. Khasanov, photos by A. Isroilov, UzA