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MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES
Acknowledging the vital importance of the shared cultural heritage is a necessary step in order to further both mutual understanding among South-East European peoples, and the sustainable socio-economic development of the communities and countries of the region. However, the richness and originality of South-East European cultural heritage is still facing various obstacles which threaten its conservation and hinder its proper valorisation.
Moving from this assumption the Government of Italy, in collaboration with UNESCO, decided to promote the organisation of the first Ministerial conference on cultural heritage in SEE, which took place in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 19 July 2004, with the participation of the Ministers responsible for culture of the beneficiary countries of the Stability Pact for SEE, as well as of high representatives of the Stability Pact’s partner countries and organisations. The occasion for the meeting was offered by the celebrations for the opening of the Old Bridge of Mostar, destroyed during the war in 1993 by deliberate bombing and painstakingly reconstructed with international assistance. The timing, purpose, and title of the conference – “Cultural heritage: a Bridge towards a Shared Future” – was largely inspired by this highly significant event.
The success of the Mostar event, combined with the support offered by UNESCO and by Italy, allowed for the continuation of the process in form of yearly ministerial conferences, to be held on a rotation basis in all the participating countries.
The Second Ministerial Conference was held in Venice, Italy, on 24-26 November 2005, hosted by the Italian government, with the collaboration of UNESCO.
The Third Ministerial Conference recently took place in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on the shores of the beautiful Ohrid lake, on 3-4 November 2006. The conference was hosted by the FYROM government, again with the collaboration of UNESCO.
On 10 September 2007 the government of Croatia, in collaboration with UNESCO, hosted the fourth edition of the annual Ministerial Conference on Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe.
Ministers of Culture of South-East European countries met in Zadar, Croatia, to reaffirm and reinforce regional cooperation for the enhancement of the shared cultural heritage.
The Fifth Ministerial Conference will be held in Bucharest, on 20 September 2008, hosted by the Government of Romania (Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs), with the support of UNESCO (UNESCO Office in Venice – Section for Culture).
Links:
First Ministerial Conference
(Mostar, BiH, 19 July 2004)
| Concept Paper |  (PDF 90 Kb) |
| Mostar Declaration | (PDF 132 Kb) |
| Mostar Action Plan | (PDF 90 Kb) |
| Pictures |  |
| Reconstruction of Mostar Bridge | |
Second Ministerial Conference
(Venice, Italy, 25-26 November 2005)
| Concept Paper | (PDF 151 Kb) |
| Venice Declaration | (PDF 86 Kb) |
| Venice Conference Official Proceedings | (PDF 6056 Kb) |
| Pictures | |
Third Ministerial Conference
(Ohrid, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 3-4 November 2006)
| Concept Paper | (PDF 119 Kb) |
| Ohrid Declaration | (PDF 1792 Kb) |
| List of participants | |
| Ohrid Conference Official Proceedings | (PDF 3858 Kb) |
| Pictures | |
Fourth Ministerial Conference
(Zadar, Croatia, 10 September 2007)
| Concept Paper | (PDF 101 Kb) |
| Programme | (PDF 102 Kb) |
| Programma (ita) | (PDF 81 Kb) |
| Media Coverage | (PDF 1924 Kb) |
| Rassegna stampa (ita) | (PDF 2600 Kb) |
| Zadar Declaration | (PDF 1869 Kb) |
| Pictures | |