Consultation of Member States and Associate Members, as well as of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), on the preparation of the Draft Medium -Term Strategy for 2014-2021 (37 C/4) and the Draft Programme and Budget for 2014 -2017 (37 C/5)

14th - 16th September 2012 ,

Index

4 General Information 6 Uruguay and UNESCO 7 The MERCOSUR Building 8 Purpose 9 The Meeting 10 Logistics and Visas 12 Airport 13 Contacts 15 Useful Information 17 Uruguay and Heritage 18 Montevideo 19 Sightseeing in Montevideo 20 Rites and Traditions

23 Excursions outside Montevideo

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Welcome

On behalf of the Government of Uru- guay, we wish to extend a warm welcome to the Regional Consultation for Latin America and the on the preparation of the documents for Medium Term Strategy 2014- 2021 (C/4) and Draft Programme and Budget for 2014-2017 (C/5) of UNESCO.

In this brochure, you will find the necessary logistic information to discover our heritage.

We hope that you feel at home and enjoy the Uruguayan hospitality.

Amb. Omar Mesa Permanent Delegate of Uruguay to UNESCO

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General Information

The Uruguayan territory has an extension of 176.000 km2 and 138.000 km2 of jurisdictional waters. Rivers, creeks and lagoons form a dense hydrographic network. Uru- guay is a natural country, green backwater between the Uru- guay river, De la Plata river and the Atlantic Ocean, where the good climate and the short distances allow to enjoy its attrac- tions all the year round. The country offers: 650 kilometres of coast with beach resorts as Punta del Este, Touristic farms where to enjoy the life of the countryside, historical places as Colonia del Sacramento, de- clared World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, a calm thermal water region and its capital city Montevi- deo, which offers diverse cultural at- tractions. The level of security, a high literacy rate, excellent health conditions and a territory with 98% of networks of drinkable water, are some of the indi- Mr. José Mujica cators that confirm that the quality President of the Republic of life in Uruguay, is one of the most important heritages of the country.

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Uruguay is politically organized as a republic divided in 19 departments. The Government is composed by three independent branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The Executive branch is lead by the president, elected every 5 years, and in conjunction with the Council of Ministers. The legislative branch is composed by the General Assembly, which consists of two chambers: the Chamber of Representa- tives and the Senate. The judicial branch is composed by the Supreme Court, con- stituted by five ministers, the courts and tribunals.

CEIBAL: A computer for each schoolchildren

CEIBAL Plan is the big- gest social and educational pro- ject of Uruguay. It was estab- lished in 2007 to provide all the country's schoolchildren and their teachers with a laptop and free internet access. Currently more than 700,000 children in public educa- tion have computers with Wi-Fi access. It is an unprecedented project in the world for its na- tional scope. Currently the program is also being imple- mented at secondary and technical education levels.

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Uruguay and UNESCO

The Regional Bureau for Science of UNESCO for Latin America and the Caribbean was established in 1949 as the Center for Scientific Cooperation of UNESCO for Latin America and the Caribbean region, one of the first offices outside headquarters in Paris. It currently serves projects and programs in 33 countries and operates on three levels of geographical and thematic scope:

Regional Bureau for Science for Latin America and the Caribbean

Its focus is on strengthening multilateral technical cooperation in sci- ence and technology in Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of a regional strategy to stimulate sustainable development and a culture of peace and tolerance in countries. In practice the office develops mul- tisectorial activity working in the five main areas of competence of the organization

Representation of the UNESCO to MERCOSUR

Montevideo is the headquarters of the Secretariat and Parliament of the MERCOSUR. The Office of the UNESCO in Montevideo is the official representation of the UNESCO to MERCOSUR. As such, it glides, exe- cutes and coordinates the action of the programs and projects of UNESCO related to the sub-region MERCOSUR + Chile, in narrow co- operation with the offices of Brasilia, la Habana and Santiago, as well as with the International Institute for the Planning of the Education (IIPE) of Buenos Aires.

Representation of the UNESCO before the Governments of Argenti- na, Paraguay and Uruguay

The Office of the UNESCO in Montevideo is the official representation of UNESCO to the governments of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. As such, it assumes the responsibilities of representation, planning and execution of the national programs of the UNESCO in these coun- tries.

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The MERCOSUR Building

In March 2002, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pro- vided the use of various spaces of the former “Parque Ho- tel” - now MERCOSUR building - to the headquarters of MERCOSUR, the representation of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Regional Fund Agricultural Development (IFAD-MERCOSUR) and UNESCO among others, to install its offices in Uruguay.

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Purpose

Session Organizers

The present regional consultation is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and , through the National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of Uruguay to UNESCO.

Objectives

The new world challenges which the international com- munity faces need an organization capable of answering to the priorities of its member states in an agile and innovative way. Therefore it is essential to ensure that the organization has the necessary resources in the regular budget extra-budgetary con- tributions. To carry out its mandate, UNESCO must be capable of achieving expected results in its five major programmes. UNESCO needs to be well administered in order to respond to the needs of Members States. This regional consultation will provide not only important inputs for the Program and Budget preparation, but in essential contri- bution to the midterm strategy which will guide the course of the organization until 2021.

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The Meeting

Location:

Hotel NH Columbia

Rambla Gran Bretaña 473

11.000, Montevideo

Tel. +59.8.29160001 | Reservations: +59.8 902 570 368

www.nh-hotels.com |[email protected]

The Government of Uruguay will cover the cost of accommodation for one participant per country. For further participants who want to stay at the same hotel, it has been negotiated a preferential rate of 120US$ (hundred twenty American dollars) per night breakfast included.

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Logistics and Visa Visa

Below is the list of countries whose citizens holding a common passport are exempted from visa requirement to enter Uruguay:

Germany El Salvador Luxemburg Andorra Slovakia Malaysia Argentina Slovenia Malta Australia México Austria United States Monaco Bahamas Estonia Nicaragua Barbados Finland Norway Belgium France New Zealand Belize Great Britain Netherlands Bolivia Greece Panamá Bulgaria Guatemala Paraguay Brazil Honduras Peru Canada Hong Kong Poland Colombia Hungary South Korea Ireland Romania Costa Rica Island Seychelles, Islas Croatia Israel South Africa Czech republic Italia Sweden Chile Jamaica Switzerland Cyprus Japan Trinidad Y Tobago Denmark Latvia Turkey Liechtenstein Venezuela Ecuador Lithuania

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The citizens of the countries of the MERCOSUR, as well as of Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru DO NOT need visa to enter, being able to travel with their Passport or their national ID.

Nationals from countries not listed in the precedent page DO re- quire a visa:

In that case, they must present submit at the Consulate of Uru- guay in its jurisdiction with at least 20 days prior to travel with the following documents:  A valid passport  Airline ticket  Hotel booking in your name or person's name, address and phone number of where you will be staying during your stay.  If applicable, invitation letter received from Uruguay.  Eventually the Consular Office may request additional infor- mation it deems necessary.

People holding diplomatic or official passports are requested to kindly contact the Embassy or Consulate of Uruguay closer to the effects of information on whether or not a visa is demanded.

In the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mrree.gub.uy under the heading "Missions" you will find updated information of the Uruguayan embassies and consu- lates abroad.

If you need further assistance, please contact the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to UNESCO by phone +33-145683470 or email: dl.uruguay @ -delegations.org

Sanitary conditions of the country are high. No special vaccina- tions are required to enter Uruguay.

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Carrasco International Airport

www.aeropuertodecarrasco.com.uy

Taxi: Approximate taxi fares from the airport to Montevideo Airport Taxi (Uruguayan pesos) Tel: (+598) 2604-0323 www.taxisaeropuerto.com Centro 1.100

Pocitos 890

Bus: Carrasco 470 Cutcsa Tel: (+598) 2204-0000 Punta Carretas 1.000

COT S.A. Parque Rodó 1.000 Airport: (+598) 2600-3195 Tres Cruces: (+598) 2409-4949 Ciudad Vieja 1.200

(1 USD = 23 uruguayan pesos aprox.)

*The services provided by these taxi and bus companies are interde- partmental and independent from the airport.

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Contacts

 Permanent Delegation of Uruguay to UNESCO Tel: (33) 01.45.68.34.70 [email protected]

 Uruguay National Commission for UNESCO Ms. Andrea Vignolo Tel: (598-2) 915-6352 (SG); Tel: (598-2) 915-2963 (Pt) Fax: (598-2) 915-6352

 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay - Department of Consular Affairs Tel: (598-2) 902 10 10 Ext. 3118

Airlines contact information in Uruguay:

 Aerolíneas Argentinas: (+598) 2902 3691

 Air France: (+598) 2902-5023/26

 American Airlines: (+598) 2916-3929

 Copa Airlines: (+598) 2623 49 03

 Gol Linhas Aéreas: (+598) 2606090

 Iberia: (+598) 2901-434

 LAN: (+598) 2712 5555

 Lufthansa: (+598) 2901-3370

 TAM Airlines: (+598) 2901-8451

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Other Hotels Suggested * (Source: Ministry of Tourism and Sports) http://www.turismo.gub.uy/

Center Four Points Montevideo Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza

Ejido 1275. Plaza Independencia 759. Tel: +(598 2) 901 7000 Tel: +(598 2) 902 0111 reservaciones.montevideo@fourpoint. [email protected] com Holiday Inn Embajador

Colonia 823. San José 1212. Tel: +(598 2) 902 0001 Tel: +(598 2) 902 0012 [email protected] [email protected] www.holidayinn.com.uy Lafayette Lancaster

Soriano 1170. Plaza Cagancha 1334. Tel: +(598 2) 902 4646 Tel: +(598 2) 902 1054. [email protected] [email protected] Pocitos Regency Suites Best Western Palladium

Gabriel Otero 6428. Tomás de Tezanos 1146. Tel: +(598 2) 600 1383 Tel: +(598 2) 628 8484 [email protected] [email protected] www.regency.com.uy Ibis Ermitage

La Cumparsita 1473. Juan Benito Blanco 783. Tel: +(598 2) 413 7000 Tel: +(598 2) 710 4021. [email protected] [email protected] www.ibishotel.com Punta Carretas Carrasco Sheraton Montevideo Belmont House

Victor Soliño 349. Avda. Rivera 6512. Tel: +(598 2) 710 2121 Tel: +(598 2) 600 0430 [email protected] [email protected]

*Transportation of the participants staying at other hotels is their own responsibility.

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Useful Information

Tourist Information Offices  Ministry of Tourism and Sports Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825 s/n esq. Yacaré  International Airport Camino Carrasco y Avda. de Las Américas - Tel: 2604 0386  Terminal Shopping Tres Cruces Bvar. Artigas y Dr. Ferrer Serra - Tel: 2409 7399  Carnaval Museum Rambla 25 de agosto de 1825 y Maciel Tel: 2916 8434

Tourist Police Force of Tourist Police - Uruguay 1667 esq. Minas - 0800 8226

Customs Port of Montevideo and International Airport Tax Free Uruguay: Premier Tax Free Uruguay - 2600 1192 int. 11 - www.premiertaxfree.com

Weather The country is located entirely in a temperate zone. The average annual temperature is around 17° C degrees . In September the temperature varies between 7°C to 17° C degrees approximately.

Currency . There are bills of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 pesos and coins of 1, 2, 5,10 pesos. 1 USD = 23 Uruguayan pesos approximately 1 Euro = 28 Uruguayan pesos approximately

Currency Exchange The currency exchange can be done at banks, exchange houses or Hotels. It is recommended to change money at banks and ex- change bureau. Banking hours: From 13.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday.

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Business Hours Monday to Friday from 9 to 19hrs Banking Hours and Currency Exchange: Mon. to Fri. 13 to 17/18hrs.

Shopping Centers Open Monday to Sunday included from 10 to 22 hours.  Punta Carretas Shopping Center José Ellauri 350  Montevideo Shopping Luis Alberto de Herrera 1290  Portones Shopping Av. Italia 5775 - Carrasco  Tres Cruces Bulevar General Artigas 1825

Radio Taxis Radio Taxi 141 - 141 Celeritas - 1919

Water Tap water is drinkable throughout the country.

Sector power 220 V / 50 Hz

International Code +598

Datos útiles Time Zone GMT/UTC -3 hours Official Language Spanish Capital Montevideo Currency Uruguayan peso Population 3 477 778 hab. Literacy rate 97, 3%

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Uruguay and Heritage

World Heritage List of UNESCO:

 The Historic Quarter of Colonia del Sacramento (1995)

Items listed in the tentative list of World Heritage:

 Legislative Palace (1995—Siege of Parliament)  Chamangá: Area of cave painting (2005—Flores depart- ment)  Bay insular area of Colonia del Sacramento (2005)  Cultural Landscape and Industrial Fray Bentos (2010- departamento of Rio Negro)  La Rambla (boardwalk) in the city of Montevideo (2010 - department of Montevideo)  Twentieth century modern architecture in the city of Montevideo (2010)  The work of the engineer Eladio Dieste (2010)

Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Uruguay:

and its socio-cultural space: a community practice (2009)  (2009 - binational inscription with Argentina)

For further information go to the website of the National Cultural Heritage of Uruguay: http://www.patrimoniouruguay.gub.uy/

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Montevideo

Founded with military and commercial purposes, the city of Montevideo became an important military fort and the main natural port of de la Plata river. The Old City reflects this histo- ry, being its main icons, the port of Montevideo, the Town Coun- cil, the Cathedral and the door of the Citadel. From the arrival at Carrasco International Airport and transfer to the city center, it is possible to enjoy the Rambla de Montevi- deo (boardwalk), registered in the indicative list of World Herit- age of Uruguay, as space for social and cultural integration. Throughout its 12-kilometer stretch of beaches, it is the enjoy- ment of all Montevideo’s population between October and April. Montevideo counts with a remarkable architectural legacy of the twentieth century, surrounded by the splendor of the Rambla: the Palacio Salvo, the Legislative Palace, Castle Pitamiglio, the Train Station, the Centenario Stadium, Carrasco Hotel and Park Hotel , among others. Particularly interesting is the modern ar- chitecture of the twentieth century (e.g. Art Deco) that can be appreciated throughout the city, and it is in Uruguay Worlds Heritage Tentative List.

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Sightseeing in Montevideo

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Rites and Traditions

Mate

Few traditions in Uruguay are so widespread as to have Mate. The con- sumption of this hot tea is a social habit of Uruguay- ans. “Yerba Mate” is an in- fusion of leaves used by the Tupi-Guarani Indians for medicinal purposes. Then the Gauchos (semi- nomadic habitants of rural areas) adopted it as a tradi- tional beverage. The essen- tial elements for the prepa- ration of the infusion are: Ma- te recipient that is made of a natural pumpkin, filled with "Yerba" (herb), the bulb that is used to sip the infusion and the water is poured nowadays from thermos . Prepar- ing as well as serving mate, is a real ritual. Of the few countries in the world who have this production, Uru- guayans are its main consumers. It is usual to see people walking and drinking mate on the streets, parks and lei- sure open spaces.

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Candombe and its socio-cultural space: a community practice

In the second half of the eighteenth century the port of Montevideo was the main port of entry of Africans to the Span- ish colonies. At the end of this century 35% of the population of Montevideo was of African descents. The afro descendants brought ancient rites, music and dances of their land that be- came known as "" and "Drums" by 1800. The term can- dombe dates from 1830 . Today candombe is performed in the streets during weekends and holidays. It is a meeting ground for drumming, dancing, or just listening the drums sound and walking in procession. It was declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009.

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Tango

Tango is a musical and dance style originated in the port cities of Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In the last decades of the nineteenth century these cities began to experience a process of mass immigration, mostly Europeans, who changed their socie- ties. The number of immigrants exceeded the existing popula- tion, producing an intense mix. Tango was born of this fusion of cultures. It is estimated that the transition lasted about forty years to establish itself as a fully established genre in the last decade of the nineteenth century. Its musical background is African American and European, fusion that lead to something unique. In those times the upper classes and the rejected and banned it. The lyrics reflect tango slang, originated in brothels, prisons and taverns, where the working class lived. In the tradition- al market of Tristan Narvaja we can find tangos relics: records, scores, pictures and books. The tango cul- ture reflects the brother- hood between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In 2009, as a result of a nomination submitted by Uruguay and Argentina, the Tango was declared by UNESCO Intan- gible Heritage of Humanity.

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Excursiones fuera de Montevideo

Colonia del Sacramento

At two hours by land transport from Montevideo, we can find Colonia del Sacramento, known as “Colonia”, capital of the department of Colonia, in the southwest of Uruguay. The “Nova Colônia do Santíssimo Sacramento” was founded in 1680, being the first european accession in our territory.

The historical hull of Colonia was declared World heritage by the UNESCO in 1995. Its architecture is a fusion of Spanish, Portu- guese and post-colonial architectural styles. The singular preservation of its environment merit a visit.

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Emergency medical assistance  UCM - Bvar. Artigas 1958 - Tel: 2487 3333. Urgencia 147  SEMM - Bvar. Artigas 870 - Tel: 2711 1111. Urgencia 159  SUAT- Avda. Sarmiento 2570 - Tel: 2711 0711 Urgencia 133  UCAR - Ave. 8 de Octubre 2481 - Tel: 2487 5318 Urgencia 1955 Radio Patrol  In case of emergency contact: 999 - 109

Permanent Delegation of the Uruguay National of Uruguay to UNESCO Commission to UNESCO

Maison de l'UNESCO Bureau M7.35 Ministerio de Educación y 1, rue Miollis Cultura 75732 Paris Cedex 1 Reconquista 535 - piso 5 +33.01.45.68.34.70 Montevideo, Uruguay dl.uruguay@unesco- (598-2) 915-6352 (SG); delegations.org (598-2) 915-2963 (Pt) Fax: (598-2) 915-6352

National Commissions to UNESCO and partner networks ERI / NCS / NAC

Tel: (33 1) 45 68 15 52 Fax: (33 1) 45 68 55 [email protected]

Edited by: Melissa Garin

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