Paris, May 22 {No.2000-52} – UNESCO will increase its contribution, within its fields of competence, to the process aiming to consolidate peace and stability in the Adriatic and Ionian region, the Organization’s Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura, said at the Conference on Stability and Security in the Adriatic and Ionian which was hosted by Italy in Ancona, May 19 and 20.

In his address to the Conference, Mr Matsuura welcomed “the fact that during the discussions […] emphasis was placed not only on economic co-operation and the fight against crime but also on the need for co-ordination in the cultural and educational sectors.” He spoke of UNESCO’s activities in South-eastern Europe, notably in cultural heritage preservation and education which has a key role to play “in a region with as historically troubled and complex a context as South-eastern Europe”, he said, citing meetings and initiatives launched by UNESCO to improve “mutual understanding and good neighbourliness.”

The Director-General also spoke of UNESCO’s activities in support of free media in the region and reiterated his concern over “authoritarian measures targeting opposition television broadcaster Studio B and several independent media in Serbia.”

Mr Matsuura expressed strong support for the Declaration adopted in Ancona to promote co-operation in the interest of political and economic stability in the region. The Declaration notably calls for increased “co-operation in the field of culture, education and science, building upon the unique and diverse cultural identities of the Adriatic and the Ionian area and on the historically close cultural links”. The signatories stress their will to strengthen collaboration in higher education and vocational training and “agree to foster co-operation in order to preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and to promote sustainable cultural tourism.”

The Conference, organised by Italy, brought together the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia. Montenegro was an observer at the Conference which was also attended by the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi; the Secretary-General of the European Council and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana-Madariaga; the Secretary of State for European Affairs of Portugal, Francisco Seixas da Costa; the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach; as well as Representatives of European Union Countries and of international organisations operating in the Balkans as well many other countries from Europe and the Mediterranean basin.