UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations was emphasized by delegates, as were the “Routes” or
“Roads” programmes to promote intercultural dialogue. In this connection the Commission examined new
proposals, such as the “Ruta del Arte” project in the Andean region and the “Road to Carthage” project. The
delegate of Switzerland suggested the setting up of a working group within the Culture Sector to reflect on issues
related to intercultural dialogue. Some delegates expressed concern that programmes designed to promote interreligious
dialogue might be misconstrued as not falling into the secular mandate of the Organization. Other
delegates, on the contrary, stressed the importance of religion in intercultural dialogue as an important means of
building a culture of peace. On item 4.11, strong support was expressed in the Commission for declaring slavery
a crime against humanity and for UNESCO to lead a global examination of the root causes of the transatlantic
slave trade with a view to discovering how to prevent such a tragedy from ever re-occurring.
2.15 I should like to recall that within the same debate a series of separate items were also discussed. The
reflections made thereon complemented and enriched the specific remarks concerning the Draft Programme and
Budget. Item 4.13 of the agenda, concerning intellectual works of universal value that have fallen into the public
domain and are regarded as forming part of the common heritage of humanity, gave rise to disagreements. The
delegate of Finland, representing the presidency of the European Union, reported that a working group of its
Member States had called unanimously for the withdrawal of this draft resolution as the proposal appeared to be
legally unworkable and bureaucratically impractical. The Commission decided by vote not to recommend for
adoption a draft resolution submitted in this connection as only one delegation favoured its retention. In regard to
item 4.14 the Commission expressed enthusiasm for the proclamation of 21 March as World Poetry Day, and
many delegates announced plans for activities in their respective countries to promote poetry on that day. I
suggested that the city of Delphi be the host of the first celebration of this day. However, I must report the
reservation expressed by Iceland on account of the celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day scheduled
every year on 23 April. As regards item 4.15 relating to the Arabia Plan, several delegates highlighted the
importance of the proposed programme for the promotion of contemporary literary, artistic and scientific Arab
culture. It was pointed out that such a programme will strengthen UNESCO’s mission of promoting tolerance and
mutual respect between peoples. The Commission decided to recommend that the General Conference approve
the draft resolution (30 C/COM.IV/DR.7) submitted in this connection, in the light of the Director-General’s
comment. In connection with item 7.5, delegates supported continued work towards the adoption of a new
convention concerning the protection of the underwater cultural heritage and expressed the hope that a draft
convention on this matter could be presented to an upcoming session of the UNESCO General Conference. The
corresponding draft resolution to this effect was revised by a working group. The spirit of consensus in that group
was stressed by several delegates.
2.16 The Commission then examined 26 draft resolutions submitted by Member States concerning Major
Programme III, Cultural development: the heritage and creativity as well as the Transdisciplinary project:
Towards a culture of peace, Unit 3: From interculturality to cultural pluralism, in the light of the Director-
General’s comments, contained in document 30 C/8 COM.IV and taking into account the recommendations by
the Executive Board in document 30 C/6. As to the debates on the transdisciplinary project, I remind you that I
made a detailed presentation last Saturday in the plenary.
2.17 With regard to the draft resolutions with financial implications, after a stimulating debate, the
Commission reached a consensus based on the recommendations of the General Conference contained in
document 30 C/INF.29. The Commission did not retain the proposal by Germany to refer the adoption of these
draft resolutions to the joint session of the Administrative Commission and the programme commissions. The
Commission then examined the recommendations corresponding to the proposed resolutions in the Programme
and Budget of Major Programme III, the Transdisciplinary project: Towards a culture of peace, and to the
proposed resolutions submitted for items 4.1, 4.10, 4.11, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 7.5. The recommendations in
connection with these draft resolutions are reflected in the written report of Commission IV in documents
30 C/64 and 30 C/64 Add. and Corr.
2.18 Before the adoption of these resolutions Germany, supported by Denmark, France, Czech Republic,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom, stressed strong reservations with regard to the juxtaposition of the
concepts of “intercultural dialogue” with “inter-religious dialogue”, emphasizing that the latter does not fall
within UNESCO’s mandate. He proposed that paragraph 05301 of Transdisciplinary project: Towards a culture
of peace be amended to take into account the Executive Board’s decision in this regard at its 155th session. This
proposal was put to the vote and, with 20 delegates voting in favour, 22 against and 16 abstaining, was not
retained by the Commission.
2.19 Debate 3, the Commission devoted two working sessions to consideration of item 4.1: UNESCO in the
twenty-first century. There was general consensus that as a consequence of the report of the World Commission
on Culture and Development, the Stockholm Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for
Development and other related initiatives, culture must clearly play a more central role in UNESCO’s overall
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