International Working Group's extraordinary session adopts "Sofia Recommendations"
Representatives of ministries of culture from SEE countries, gathered in Sofia on 20 March 2009 for an extraordinary session of the International Working Group (IWG), adopted a strategic document setting forth new guidelines for enhancing international cooperation in the field of safeguarding and promotion of South-East European cultural heritage.
The International Working Group (IWG), consultation and coordination body of the annual Ministerial Conferences on Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe, met in Sofia on 20th March 2009 for an extraordinary session organised by the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria in collaboration with Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgarian Commission for UNESCO, and with the support of the Culture Section of UNESCO Office in Venice - Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (UNESCO-BRESCE).
Representatives of the ministries responsible for culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia participated in the session, together with representatives of UNESCO.
Main objective of the meeting was to initiate the preparation of the sixth Ministerial Conference on Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe, to be held in Montenegro in November 2009, with a view at advancing proposals for the definition of a new Action Plan aimed at enhancing cultural cooperation in the region. To this end the session focussed on the discussion of action lines, priorities, resources, as well as potentialities and constraints for the strengthening of regional cooperation against the background of the international financial crisis, resulting in the definition of a joint document named "Sofia Recommendations - strategic framework for future challenges of Cultural cooperation in South-Eastern Europe"
The document proposes a three-pronged approach, focusing on: Culture as a platform for the enhancement of international cooperation; Culture as a key-factor in fostering sustainable development and facing international economic crisis; Culture as a tool for dialogue, inclusion, and mutual understanding.
The Sofia Recommendations will serve as main reference for the definition of the new Action Plan to be approved by the 6th Ministerial conference on cultural heritage in South-Eastern Europe.