On the invitation of the Government of Azerbaijan, a unique conference setting brings together the 49 Ministers from States Signatory to the European Cultural Convention and Ministers from a number of Member States of the Arab League for Education, Culture and Science Organisation (ALECSO) and the Islamic Science, Education and Culture Organisation (ISESCO), namely Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Egypt, Lybia, Morocco, Senegal, Qatar, Malaysia and Tunisia). The event sets the tone for enhanced cooperation in cultural and artistic actions between Europe and its neighbouring regions.
Ministerial sessions will deal with the following subjects:
(i) the “White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue – from universal values to local action”;
(ii) “Cultural policy programmes and initiatives and intercultural dialogue: New concepts on the governance of diversity”;
(iii) “Heritage and intercultural dialogue – from national to universally owned heritage”.
It is the intention to launch a fund and practical co-operation activities as a follow-up to the conference. A Conference Declaration, based on the principles of the Council of Europe’s White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue will sum up the insights gained, underlining the power and potential of culture for intercultural dialogue including commitments by participants to future action.
Several associated side-events to the conference will also be taking place on 4 and 5 December 2008 in Baku to enhance networking among cultural policy makers, researchers and cultural practitioners. These include a meeting of the Bureau of the Steering Committee for Culture, the Compendium authors’ meeting celebrating the 10th anniversary of the cultural policy information system and the Kyiv Initative Regional Programme meeting of National Coordinators.
Background papers to this event will be added to this site when they are available. For more information, please contact Ms Kathrin Merkle or Ms Sarah Humble (kathrin.merkle@coe.int; sarah.humble@coe.int).
>> Draft programme
1 - The Action plan derived from the Warsaw Summit commits the Council of Europe to encourage intercultural and inter-faith dialogue, based on universal human rights, as a means of promoting awareness, understanding, reconciliation and tolerance, as well as preventing conflicts and ensuring integration and the cohesion of society.
2 - http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/intercultural/whitepaper_interculturaldialogue_2_EN.asp?
- Website of the COE Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport Directorate General (IV)