Friday, 19 October 2007. | |
“UNESCO and the Promotion of Peace” Address to the 34th General Conference of the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization by H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Paris, 19 October 2007 |
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President Anastasopoulos, Director General Matsura, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour to address the 34th General Conference of UNESCO. The Only when we come to look at diversity as a source of strength—only when we embrace the view that individual cultures genuinely prosper and progress when they come into contact with other cultures—can we say that the tide has inexorably turned in favour of peace, human rights, and a common sense of destiny. Ladies and Gentlemen, Thanks in part to the support and dedication of UNESCO’s Centre for World Heritage, Four of these sites—all those that are located in To destroy what those before you have built, in the conviction that you thereby erase the truth of it ever having been there, is an act of supreme inhumanity—of cultural cleansing. In Kosovo as everywhere else, peace must not be allowed to be built on the ashes of destroyed heritage. For reconciliation and peace is not the simple result of a unification of likeness; it requires the offering and accepting of the gift of difference. Allow me therefore to recognize the personal engagement of Director General Matsura, and to particularly thank Italy, Greece and the Czech Republic, together with the European Union and the Council of Europe, for their to help restore and conserve the Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija. I can assure you that Serbia’s Ministry of Culture, together with our National Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, will expand their cooperation with the international community—in order to more effectively implement the preservation and restoration of Serbian heritage sites in Kosovo and Metohija. Ladies and Gentlemen, The We believe that only such a compromise solution can pave the way toward the more rapid integration of not only Excellencies, In conclusion, I would like to state that the In furtherance of our support for the Programme of the Medium-Term Strategy, it is my pleasure to announce Moreover, the Finally, the I am proud of my country’s dedication to press forward our promotion of cultural diversity and fight against cultural cleansing. For the tangible and intangible achievements of the more than 6000 cultural communities that span the globe are the most precious treasure of humankind. They make up the “infinite tapestry of distinctions, nuance and change” of the world, in the words of our Director General. Protecting and enhancing these achievements of man is the great task before us all. For they constitute a foundation of identity, a basis of development, a tool of reconciliation, and an instrument of peace. Thank you very much for your attention. |