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

Opening Address by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kiyohiro Araki
22 March 2001 at UNU, Tokyo

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to open the South Eastern Europe Education and Cultural Heritage Seminar. I am pleased to welcome all of you representing the international community, the countries of SEE and the experts on the region.

While the conflicts of the 1990s which ravaged South Eastern Europe are still fresh in people's minds, a new prospect for the region has appeared with the fall of Milosevic and the democratisation of Yugoslavia. In the past year, we have witnessed the tide turning against the forces of ethnic discrimination, and narrow nationalism and a new following wind for those who advocate reform, not just in Yugoslavia but also in Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina.

On the other hand, the remnants of those who can see only a narrow nationalism still lie in the path of reform. We see this in the continuing violence towards minority groups and in those who are still unable to return to their homes. This makes us fear for the reigniting of conflict. The increasing tensions in the southern part of the Serbia and the northwestern part of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should concern us all. Japan urges the ethnic armed extremists to halt their violent acts immediately and hopes that the situation will be brought under control as soon as possible through cooperation between the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the international community.

Against this back drop of continuing difficulties facing the region, Japan has continued to support the reform efforts, both in creating a market economy and in allowing democratic principles to take root. We are working closely with the EU, the OSCE and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, among others. But we should also emphasize that the people of the region must help themselves and work with each other in order that assistance by the international community will bear fruit. We are also fully aware that it is not easy to advance dialogue between different forces that have opposed each other up until now. It was from such viewpoints that Japan hosted the 'High Level Conference on South Eastern Europe' in Tokyo last May. This complemented our bilateral and humanitarian aid, and a central theme of the Conference, 'Harmony between Ethnic Groups' was reflected in the debate at the Kyushu Okinawa G8 Summit. This seminar builds on what has been achieved by the Conference. We will be focusing on the more specific themes of education and the protection of cultural heritage from a practical perspective. We will aim to share experiences and lessons among ourselves as well as to explore the specific measures so that we will be able to dispel ethnic hatred in the region and make the 'Harmony Between Ethnic Groups' a reality. I would like to touch briefly upon each of these themes:

Narrow nationalism has caused so much suffering in South Eastern Europe. Japan has attached high priority to education and the media in our cooperation with South Eastern Europe. This is because we in Japan strongly believe from our post-war experiences in rebuilding Japan that fundamental reform in education and the media is essential in building a society founded on a spirit of democracy and respect for human rights and dignity. Furthermore, although it is said that hatred is something learnt rather than something humans are born with, it is the duty of education to undo this and ease the hatred. If efforts to reform education contribute to the prevention of conflicts reoccurring then this would be an important gain for our preventative diplomacy. In the session about education, I am hoping there will be a constructive debate about how measures and cooperation can be effective in creating a climate in which the everyone can appreciate and respect the rich diversity of culture and ethnic groups in South Eastern Europe. I would also expect exchange of views as to how education can promote culture of peace in the region.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ongoing development in Afghanistan has caused grave concern about the protection of the world's heritage. What the Taliban has done to destroy precious images starting with the Giant Buddhas which are the shared cultural heritage of mankind has been a tremendous blow to the international community. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Hirayama, who is a well-known artist has taken the initiative in launching an emergency appeal together with the heads of museums in the USA, the UK, France, and other countries, to demand the immediate halt of the destruction of these images. He has also started to raise funds within Japan in order to protect the remains and is also promoting a petition to demand the immediate halt of the destruction of these images. In order to stop these reckless attempts against the shared heritage of all mankind, it is necessary to appreciate and respect the diversity of civilisations and culture, and in order to do this I believe it crucial to promote dialogue between each civilisation and between every country so that sensitivity and spirit of tolerance will be cultivated.

If you take a look at Asia, Japan has gained a lot of experience in Asia where we helped to restore Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Compared to Cambodia where Angkor is the symbol of the unity and identity of the nation, the situation in South Eastern Europe is more complex. As a matter of fact, the cultural heritage each ethnic group wants to protect is different and we must find some way of solving the confrontation which surrounds this. Therefore, I am hoping for a constructive debate that will shed light on how the preservation of cultural heritage can help build a multi-ethnic society in which the heritage is shared by all groups and does not contribute to strengthening narrow nationalism. Furthermore, as one part of the follow-up to this seminar, Japan will consider sending a fact-finding mission on cultural heritage to South Eastern Europe as a means of promoting cooperation on the protection of cultural heritage in the region.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Permit me to say a few words concerning what sort of meaning it has for Japan to be engaged in education and the preservation of cultural heritage in South Eastern Europe, from a global perspective.

Firstly, this seminar, along with the High Level Seminar last May, is one aspect of the Japan-EU Cooperation advocated last year in January by Foreign Minister Kono. This is based on our shared policy to promote cross support on the issues of peace and stability in both Asia and Europe. In fact, both Japan and the EU are committed to such cross-support with the view to promoting smooth cooperation on post-conflict peace building as well as on conflict prevention. From this year the agreed "Decade of Japan-EU Cooperation" has begun and I hope that this seminar, as one concrete measure of this, will serve to contribute to the promotion of Japan-EU cooperation. Let me also add that calling for the protection of cultural assets such as the Giant Buddhas in Afghanistan could serve as a specific example of Japan-EU cooperation.

Secondly, even though Japan is historically less linked with South Eastern Europe than other European countries, I hope that, making use of this to our advantage, our government and NGOs will be able to contribute to the "harmony between ethnic groups" from what can be seen as an objective and neutral standpoint. South Eastern Europe is also the front line of humanitarian aid which is founded on the human security which Japan takes seriously.

Thirdly, in November 1998 the UN General Assembly announced that 2001 would be the "The United Nations Year of dialogue between Civilisations", and requested that each country, international organisation and NGO put in place social, educational and cultural programmes. As a result of this, in April this year, an "International Conference on the Dialogue between Civilizations" will be held under the joint chair of UNESCO and Lithuania, in Lithuania's capital city, Vilnius. Furthermore, in July and August this year, UNESCO and the United Nations University will co-host the "Conference Concerning the Dialogue between Nations" in Tokyo and Kyoto. Japan, as an Asian democracy, is well-placed to promote the "dialogue between civilisations" from its own standpoint. From this perspective, Foreign Minister Kono announced the Initiative for Dialogue between Civilisations, a measure in order to promote trust and mutual understanding between peoples belonging to different cultures and civilisations. I am hoping that this seminar which is being hosted through the cooperation of UNESCO and UNICEF will play a leading role in "The United Nations Year of Dialogue Between Nations".

Ladies and Gentlemen,

"By broadening peoples' outlook through children of different ethnic groups forming one team, practicing together and playing a match, we can cultivate a spirit of tolerance towards different ethnic groups. Furthermore, using this to promote exchange between different ethnic groups by getting the parents involved, we can foster new links which are not bound up by the past". This is the concept which a group of Japanese students have fostered, and they have made every efforts to make this concept a reality. The Japanese students who formed a junior soccer team called "Kuriro" (which means 'Wings' in the local language) one year ago in the suburbs of Sarajevo have contributed to ethnic reconciliation in Bosnia at a grass roots level. I was moved by this episode and have invited the young Japanese to this seminar.

Let me close by hoping that fruitful exchanges of views at this seminar will serve to encourage the activities young people like these.