Education Minister Taieb Baccouche reasserted Tunisia's attachment to the principles of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and to its noble mission, and the country's commitment to strengthen cultural co-operation between nations. In an address at the opening of the 36th session of the UN organisation's general conference, held recently in Paris, the Minister paid tribute to its support to Tunisia's democratic transition. Mr. Baccouche also called on UNESCO to further strive to strengthen gender equality, dialogue between the peoples and cultures and freedom of speech and creation. He reiterated Tunisia's unfailing support to the Palestinian cause and to the Palestinian people's aspiration to build their independent State. He stressed the need to guarantee protection of Al-Qods city—the symbol of cultural diversity and co-existence of civilisations and religions—from distortion of its Arab and Islamic identity.