Minister Copps Pleased with Progress Towards Integrating Instrument on Cultural Diversity in UNESCO
PARIS, February 6, 2003 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps is pleased with the progress made towards integrating the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity within UNESCO. The Minister led the Canadian delegation to Paris for the meeting of the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization, on February 5 and 6. The Working Group was created as part of the International Network on Cultural Policy. Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications Diane Lemieux was a member of the Canadian delegation.Together with other ministers in the Working Group, Minister Copps met with the Director General of UNESCO, Ko•chiro Matsuura, who gave a positive reception to the Working Group's proposal that the Instrument be integrated within UNESCO. Mr. Matsuura plans to refer the proposal to his Executive Board to have it added to the agenda of the next meeting of the General Conference of this multilateral organization, to be held in September 2003. In November 2001, UNESCO adopted a Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Article 1 of the Declaration aims to further consideration of the timeliness of a legal International Instrument on Cultural Diversity.
"It is clear that we are about to take a decisive step with regard to the means of preserving and promoting cultural diversity around the world," said Minister Copps. "The challenge now is to obtain the widest possible consensus around the principle of the International Instrument, whose main objective is to protect cultural diversity, just as the Rio Convention protects biological diversity. Canada intends to continue working enthusiastically towards this goal with UNESCO member states."
In addition, the Minister delivered the closing speech at the Second International Meeting of Cultural Professional Organizations, and she recalled the crucial role played by civil society in promoting cultural diversity. "The invaluable work of cultural and artists' professional organizations in this direction, combined with the efforts of the member Ministers of the International Network on Cultural Policy, has greatly contributed to making diversity an issue not to be overlooked on the agenda of governments throughout the world," said the Minister.
Minister Copps also spoke before the Canada-France Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the rich cultural partnership between our two countries and the necessity of giving governments and nation-states the means to freely define their cultural policies and ways to encourage their development." Diversity is synonymous with prosperity in the world today," said the Minister. "It gives us a taste for innovation, promotes social development, and leads to greater intercultural dialogue. It is the promise of a better quality of life for all our communities."
Minister Copps noted that she was particularly pleased with the commitment and involvement of France's President, Jacques Chirac, who supported the International Instrument, as well as with the collaboration of France and Canada in promoting cultural diversity.
The International Network on Cultural Policy was a Canadian initiative, created in Ottawa, in 1998. It currently has a membership of 53 countries from all the major regions of the world. Its mission is to encourage dialogue on issues of cultural diversity in the context of globalization, and to propose solutions.
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
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