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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 diversity of South-East European cultural heritage is still facing various obstacles which threaten its conservation and hinder its proper promotion.
Moving from this assumption the Government of Italy, in collaboration with UNESCO, decided to organise the first Ministerial conference on cultural heritage in South-Eastern Europe (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, led to the institutionalisation of the process in form of yearly Ministerial Conferences on Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe, to be held on a rotation basis in all participating countries. The Conferences are officially organised by the governments of the host countries, with the support of UNESCO through the Culture Section of UNESCO Office in Venice – BRESCE.
The Second Ministerial Conference was held in Venice, Italy, on 24-26 November 2005, organised by the Italian government.
The Third Ministerial Conference took place in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on the shores of the Ohrid lake, on 3-4 November 2006. The event was organised by the Macedonian Ministry of Culture.
The Fourth Ministerial Conference was hosted by the government of Croatia (Ministry of Culture), and took place in Zadar on 10 September 2007.
The Fifth Ministerial Conference was recently held in Bucharest, on 20 September 2008, hosted by the Government of Romania (Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs).
The Sixth Ministerial Conference will be organised in Montenegro, by the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, Sports and Media, in 2009.
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 | |
Fifth Ministerial Conference
(Bucharest, 20 September 2008)
| Bucharest Declaration | (PDF 110 Kb) |
| IWG conclusions | (PDF 83 Kb) |