The 19th general conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has opened in Kenya with two controversial issues - Israel and the freedom of the press - threatening to split the meeting.

SYNOPSIS: The five-week conference is being held at the Kenyatta Conference Centre in Nairobi. Its the first time it's been held in Africa. The official opening was performed by President Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, who praised the fact that UNESCO's Director-General, Mr. Ahmadou M'Bow of Senegal, was an African.

Delegates from the 138 member nations of UNESCO are in Nairobi for the meeting.

In his opening speech on Tuesday, President Kenyatta stressed the importance of education, and said he was pleased the conference was being held in Africa. But behind the scenes of formality, a Soviet-inspired resolution seeking world press censorship, and the reported re-application of Israeli, was threatening to cause some dissent. Israel was voted out of UNESCO's European group two years ago.

The chairman of the Executive Board, Mr. Hector Wynter, appealed for unity, harmony and goodwill.