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Seminar on Education & Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europe

Joint Chair Summary
22-23 March 2001 at UNU, Tokyo

1. Program and Participants

On 22-23rd March 2001, the "Seminar on Education & Protection of Cultural Heritage in South Eastern Europe" was held in Tokyo. Participants in this seminar came from the countries of South Eastern Europe including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia, Romania, Yugoslavia, and from a range of intergovernmental organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, Council of Europe, OSCE, Office of Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and selected NGOs (a total of 28 people). 19 Japanese experts and academics from various fields attended the seminar.

2. Background

This seminar built on the results of the High Level Conference on South Eastern Europe, held in Tokyo in May last year, and the Kyushu-Okinawa G8 Summit last July. It aimed to consider from a more practical point of view, the role that education and the protection of cultural heritage can play towards both post-conflict peace building and addressing the minorities issues, by assessing the current situation as well as the role of international organizations and countries concerned. The Government of Japan hosted this seminar for the following reasons:

(1) The GOJ would like to make a contribution to this year as "The UN Year of Dialogue among Civilizations".
(2) As one concrete measure of "The Decade of Japan-Europe Cooperation" (2001-2010) advocated by Foreign Minister Kono.

In South Eastern Europe, on the one hand, the tide has turned against the forces of ethnic and religious discrimination, and there is a new following wind for those who advocate reform and renewal. Against the background of continuing ethnic tensions and fears of another conflict, it is timely to host this seminar which takes as its theme "Harmony among ethnic groups" through education and the preservation of cultural heritage.

3. Opening Address

In his opening address, representing the host, Senior Vice Minister Araki spoke about the current situation in South Eastern Europe and Japan's aid to that region. He stated that the aim of this seminar was to search out concrete measures in promoting "Harmony among ethnic groups" based on the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit and the High Level Conference on South Eastern Europe, held in Tokyo last May. He stressed the importance of education and the preservation of cultural heritage in erasing ethnic discrimination, promoting reconciliation between ethnic groups and preventing the reoccurence of conflict. The Senior Vice Minister outlined the importance of dialogue between nations and civilizations in which there was a spirit of tolerance and sensitivity in order to stop the destruction of the shared heritage of mankind, such as the giant Bamiyan stone Buddhas recently destroyed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He also expressed the intention to consider dispatching a fact-finding mission on cultural heritage to South Eastern Europe. Furthermore, the Minister emphasised the significance of Japan's involvement in education and preservation of cultural heritage in South Eastern Europe from the viewpoint of promoting Japan-Europe Cooperation as well as the "Initiative on Dialogue among Civilizations". He also hoped that Japan could contribute to bringing harmony among ethnic groups from a neutral standpoint, by making use of the merit that Japan has fewer historical links with South Eastern Europe than many countries closer to the region.

4. Keynote Speeches

At the beginning of the seminar, the message of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, was read out. In this, he mentioned that preserving heritage also means taking action to protect it and applying sanctions when it is endangered, damaged or destroyed. If we wish to preserve our historical inheritance we need to take action against those would destroy it such as the attacks on Dubrovnik ten years ago in the Balkans, and the current destruction of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic heritage by the Taliban. He also highlighted that UNESCO's action in South Eastern Europe is now focusing on a more in-depth regional approach, taking into account the prevailing historical and geographical context, the close cultural links among the countries of the region and the active participation of the governmental authorities and civil society.

In his keynote address, Mr. Horst Godicke, Chairman of UNESCO's Working Group on South-Eastern Europe, stressed the timeliness of the seminar which represents a concrete step in the implmentation of both the UNGA Resolution proclaiming 2001 as the United Nations year of Dialogue among Civilisations, and the 2001-2010 decade of Japan-Europe Cooperation. He also welcomed the organizers' recognition of the need to address the cultural causes of most of the conflicts in SEE and of the importance of the cultural dimension in the debate on development. Considering that there were no turnkey imports to solve the problems, he underlined that long-term efforts through education were required. He emphasised UNESCO's openness to partnerships with donor countries, regional IGOs and NGOs, which complement the institutional cooperation with its sister agencies of the UN system. He also outlined the activities of UNESCO's three offices located in Bucharest, Sarajevo and Venice, which have a special role to play in the region. Lastly, he spoke about the "International Conference on Dialogue among Civilizations" which will be held in Lithuania in April and also about the conference to be held on this subject in Tokyo and Kyoto in August.

Dr. Klaus Schumann, Director General of Political Affairs, Council of Europe, paid tribute to his organization's close relationship with Japan. He presented the Council of Europe as an organization with 52 years in the service of reconciliation, confidence building and cooperation towards a European continent without dividing lines. Through the joint commitment of its members to pluralist democracy, respect of human rights (including those of minorities), the rule of law and a cultural heritage enriched by its diversity, the organization generates democratic security as an original contribution to the political strategies for consolidation of peace and stability. With regard to South East Europe, it strongly favours regional cooperation through transborder activities and the creation of "Euroregions". The council makes available to the countries of the region its main cooperation structures such as the European Cultural Convention or legal instruments such as the European Framework Convention on the protection of national minorities. Finally, he presented the various action programmes for South East Europe in the fields of education, democratic citizenship, history teaching, cultural networking, preservation of cultural heritage, confidence building in majority-minority situations and rehabilitation of a multi-ethnic and multicultural society (LINK DIVERSITY campaign).

Professor Tamotsu Aoki of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, said in his keynote speech that the protection and respect for cultural heritage were among the most important issues for the human race to address in the 21st Century, and emphasised the need to establish neutral bodies, which are free from interests of parties involved in order to enforce the protection and management of cultural heritage. Furthermore, because ethnic prejudice and discrimination will be brooded over by society, it is necessary to instill in childhood a respect for, and an understanding of the importance of the preservation of cultural heritage. An ethnically neutral set of values needs to be conveyed in elementary and primary education in order to overcome differences in culture and ethnic background. Moreover, he pointed out that Japan should address the spirit of the Agenda of last year's Kyushu-Okinawa Summit which was "Preserve the Diversity of Culture", and emphasised the necessity of making concrete policy to realize this. He also stressed the importance of making use of this seminar to gain momentum toward creating concrete organizations, such as the Global Committee on Cultural Heritage in Tokyo.

5. Session on Education

In the first session on Education, there was a constructive discussion on how international cooperation can effectively contribute to fostering a climate in which citizens carry a feeling of mutual respect of different cultures and ethnic groups and recognize that cultural and ethnic diversity is an advantage rather than a constraint in South Eastern Europe. Where massacres and 'ethnic cleansing' practices had taken place, people's attitudes and mindset must change in order to advance reconciliation between ethnic groups living together. Specifically a presentation was made on the education programmes of UNESCO in conflict areas and those which have minority problems, as well as the child welfare and education programmes of UNICEF. The roles of NGOs and the OSCE Office for the High Commissioner on National Minorities were also outlined, in which education was seen as an important means of preventive diplomacy. The importance of tackling minority issues and the role of education in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction was specifically emphasised. Examples of education as a factor to reduce to ease ethnic tension and to promote the multi-cultural society were described. In this regard, curriculum development and the use of information technology in support of the learning and teaching process were discussed in detail.

6. The Session on the Protection of Cultural Heritage

In the second session on the protection of cultural heritage, there was a constructive discussion on how we can make a reality the protection of cultural heritage which contributes to the construction of a multi-ethnic society, and also how we can realize the protection of cultural heritage which does not lead to ethno-centrism and ethnic superiority. Specifically, the emphasis was made on the need to build confidence through the preservation of cultural heritage in post-conflict areas, based on the experiences such as the reconstruction of the Mostar Bridge in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the rehabilitation of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Furthermore, a presentation was made on the GoJ's policy on the preservation of culture and specific measures Japan has put in place to preserve cultural heritage. Moreover, while the reconstruction of cultural heritage which has been intentionally destroyed in conflict carries a symbolic meaning in promoting post-conflict confidence building, there is on the other hand, a fear that the cultural heritage of a specific religion or ethnic group will be connected to ideologies of ethnic superiority. Also addressed were:

- the importance of final declaration and resolution of the international symposium on cultural diversity and heritage held in Tokyo in December 2000 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Law of the Protection of Cultural Properties.
- the point that selection of cultural heritage for preservation is in itself politically sensitive. - the difficulties arising from the coexistence of both protection of cultural heritage, and ecomonic development and reconstruction.
- the importance of regional and holistic approaches in promoting ethnic harmony.
- the necessity of de-ethnicizing cultural heritage.
- that need for education to address protection of cultural heritage.
- the importance of a legal framework to protect cultural heritage.
- the importance of political will in protecting cultural heritage from destruction.

Furthemore, many speakers annouced their anxiety concerning the destruction of giant Bamiyan Buddhist statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan, which are the shared heritage of all mankind. Because of this, on the authority of the joint chair, a seperate Joint Chair Statement has been issued in connection with the destruction of these statues.

7. Wrap-Up Session

In the wrap-up session, along with recognising the importance of the roles of education and preservation of cultural heritage in building peace after a conflict and in tackling minority issues in conflict regions, participants shared the understanding that for every country of South Easten Europe to be able to achieve each step gradually, the United Nations and the International Community should encourage self-help in each country, and also noted the importance of continuity of aid. Reconciliation between ethnic groups that are confronting one another is not easy but the importance of a human-centered community becoming a reality one day soon was recognised by all.

8. Conclusion

All the themes discussed at this seminar require tackling in the mid-long term. Working in cooperation with each country's governments, international bodies such as UNESCO, UNICEF, Council of Europe, Office of Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, and NGOs, the implementation of follow-up projects is important. As one part of this, as a concrete example, it has been announced that the Japanese government is looking into dispatching a fact-finding mission on the cultural heritage of South Eastern Europe.

Furthermore, together with the importance of education and the preservation of cultural heritage, the importance for respect for the individual was also highlighted, and in this context the importance of humanitarian aid based on the principle of human security was highlighted.

Finally, the pioneering role this seminar had played in the "UN Year of Dialogue among Civilizations" was noted, and participants recognised the importance of the international community acting together to use education and the protection of cultural heritage effectively in preventing conflict, not just in South Eastern Europe but in the protection of minorities and in post-conflict peace building in every area of the world.

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