The Director-General expressed his satisfaction about UNESCO’s cooperation with Albania and the personal interest of President Moisiu in the Organization’s activities, referring in particular to his participation in the Ohrid Forum for Dialogue among Civilizations in August 2003 and the inauguration ceremony of the Old Bridge of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2004.

During their discussion, Mr Moisiu and Mr Matsuura talked about the Regional Summit “The Development of Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Dialogue - Important Factor for the Stability and Progress of South-East Europe” to be convened jointly by the President and the Director-General in Tirana, Albania, on 9 and 10 December 2004. This Summit is part of UNESCO’s wider effort to promote dialogue among cultures and civilizations at the regional and sub-regional levels, as well as to strengthen cooperation among its Member States in South-East Europe through concrete actions in UNESCO’s fields of competence.

The Summit will bring together Presidents and high-level experts from South-East Europe and other regions to examine and identify good practices to bolster stability and reinforce the value and impact of dialogue in order to prevent conflicts. The Director-General highlighted the importance of promoting dialogue in the region of South-East Europe that has known conflicts, misunderstanding and mutual distrust for years. President Moisiu felt Albania to be a particularly appropriate venue for furthering the dialogue since it is the country in which three different religions coexist peacefully.

After the meeting, the President and the Director-General inaugurated an exhibition of Albanian cultural treasures from the Middle Ages to the present entitled “Colours and impressions of Albania: from icons to contemporary painting”. Seven icons of 13th –18th centuries were included in the exhibit alongside with 33 paintings from the last two centuries.