DIRECTOR-GENERAL WELCOMES PROCLAMATION OF 2002 AS UNITED NATIONS YEAR FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE

Paris, November 22 (No.2001-127) - UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura has welcomed yesterday’s proclamation of the year 2002 as United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage by the United Nations General Assembly and the decision to designate UNESCO as the lead agency for the Year.

Speaking in his capacity as the head of the UN organization in charge of protecting, safeguarding and enhancing the world’s heritage, Mr. Matsuura declared:

“The proclamation should help UNESCO gain recognition for the importance of cultural heritage preservation. I hope it will stimulate Member States to undertake significant activities and measures to safeguard their heritage. People all over the world need to be made aware of the importance of cherishing our varied heritage, both the treasures of our physical cultural heritage and the intangible heritage of traditions and cultural practices. In learning to appreciate and value our own heritage, we can learn to appreciate the heritage of other cultures. This is an essential step towards ensuring peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding. Furthermore, heritage preservation is essential if we are to retain the wealth of our cultural diversity and ensure that the world is enriched rather than impoverished by globalization.”

The proclamation, calling for enhanced support and funding to promote and protect national and world cultural heritage, was proposed by Egypt and co-sponsored by Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Ethiopia, Finland, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco Nepal, Russian Federation, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay Greece, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, Monaco, Norway, Syria, Thailand, United States, Tunisia, Suriname, Moldavia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar. It follows on a Resolution adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference at it 31st session earlier this month in response to the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas of Afghanistan earlier this year.

It reflects a concept that UNESCO has been advocating for many decades namely that of a common heritage of humanity in which all have a stake, regardless of geographic location. Through its longstanding heritage protection activities - from Nubia and Venice, to Carthage and Angkor - UNESCO has demonstrated that heritage protection can also play a significant role in the economic and social development of local communities, especially through cultural tourism.

The Year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 1972 Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It aims to trigger off increased support by states, UN agencies, networks, civil societies, as well as both private and public sectors, in favour of heritage protection. It is hoped that the proclamation will serve to reinforce the implementation by Member States of the 1972 Convention, as well as The Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its two Protocols; of the 1970 Convention on the Prohibition and Prevention of the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property; and of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference this year.

Results expected from the Year include:

· Generate support for UNESCO’s entire action in the field of heritage protection;

· Intensifying co-operation among UN agencies;

Integrate heritage protection and safeguarding in national planning strategies and in school manuals;

Develop technical mutual assistance for the protection and enhancement of heritage among different countries;

· Extend partnerships and mobilize financial resources.

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For the full text of Resolution A/56/L.13 see: www.un.org/ga/56/

For UNESCO’s activities in heritage protection see: www.unesco.org/whc/ and www.unesco.org/clt