UNESCO.ORGThe OrganizationEducationNatural SciencesSocial & Human SciencesCultureCommunication & InformationSitemap
Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (BRESCE)
NATURAL SCIENCES
Basic & Eng. Sciences
Coasts & Small Islands
Freshwater
Oceans
People & Nature
Science Policy
CULTURE
Cultural Diversity & Intercultural Dialogue
Cultural Tourism
Heritage Protection & Reconciliation
Promotion of Artistic Creativity
UNESCO Private Committees Programme for the Safeguarding of Venice
Contact  Send Print Sitemap
WHO´S WHO?
News - EVENTS CALENDAR
ABOUT THE OFFICE
Functioning
Information
Human Resources
Publications
ACTIVITIES
COMMUNITY
REGION
FELLOWSHIPS
MASTER COURSES
RESEARCH TRAINING
HOW TO REACH US

Palazzo Zorzi, Castello 4930
30122 Venice (Italy)
tel. + 39 041 2601511
fax: + 39 041 5289995

Email: veniceoffice@unesco.org


Ministerial conferences
Acknowledging the vital importance of the shared cultural heritage is a necessary step in order to further both mutual understanding among South-East European peoples, and the sustainable socio-economic development of the communities and countries of the region. However, the richness and originality of South-East European cultural heritage is still facing various obstacles which threaten its conservation and hinder its proper valorisation.

First Ministerial Conference
(Mostar, BiH, 19 July 2004)


Moving from this assumption the Government of Italy, in collaboration with UNESCO, decided to promote the organisation of the first Ministerial conference on cultural heritage in SEE, which took place in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 19 July 2004, with the participation of the Ministers responsible for culture of the beneficiary countries of the Stability Pact for SEE, as well as of high representatives of the Stability Pact’s partner countries and organisations. The occasion for the meeting was offered by the celebrations for the opening of the Old Bridge of Mostar, destroyed during the war in 1993 by deliberate bombing and painstakingly reconstructed with international assistance. The timing, purpose, and title of the conference – “Cultural heritage: a Bridge towards a Shared Future” – was largely inspired by this highly significant event.

The success of the Mostar event, combined with the support offered by UNESCO and by Italy, allowed for the continuation of the process in form of yearly ministerial conferences, to be held on a rotation basis in all the participating countries.

Second Ministerial Conference
(Venice, Italy, 25-26 November 2005)


The Second Ministerial Conference was held in Venice, Italy, on 24-26 November 2005, hosted by the Italian government, with the collaboration of UNESCO.

Third Ministerial Conference
(Ohrid, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 3-4 November 2006)


The Third Ministerial Conference recently took place in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on the shores of the beautiful Ohrid lake, on 3-4 November 2006. The conference was hosted by the FYROM government, again with the collaboration of UNESCO.

Fourth Ministerial Conference
(Zadar, Croatia, 10 September 2007)


On 10 September 2007 the government of Croatia, in collaboration with UNESCO, hosted the fourth edition of the annual Ministerial Conference on Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe. Ministers of Culture of South-East European countries met in Zadar, Croatia, to reaffirm and reinforce regional cooperation for the enhancement of the shared cultural heritage.

Fifth Ministerial Conference
(Bucharest, 20 September 2008)


The Fifth Ministerial Conference was held in Bucharest, on 20 September 2008, hosted by the Government of Romania (Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs), with the support of UNESCO (UNESCO Office in Venice – Section for Culture).

The Sixth Ministerial Conference will be organised in Montenegro, by the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, Sports and Media, in 2009.







RESOURCES
ID: 43198 | guest (Read)       Terms of use - Logo      UNESCO Contact      © UNESCO 1995-2009     
Updated:19-06-2009 5:09 pm