Prologue
Professor E. Venizelos
Minister of Culture
It was a particular pleasure and honor for Greece to host the Third
Ministerial Meeting of International Network for cultural Policy
in 2000. As we all know, Greece was one of the Network's founding
member states, and I had the honor to propose its candidacy for
holding the 2000 Ministerial meeting at the Network's first Meeting
held in Canada in June 1998.
Of particular importance for us was the Network's Third Ministerial
Meeting in Santorini in September 2000, chaired by the then Minister
of Culture Theodoros Pangalos. It was important both because it
coincided with the turn of the century, and also because it discussed
issues relating to the principles governing the Greek cultural institution
of global dimensions, the Cultural Olympiad, an intermediate period
of major cultural events between Olympic Games. At the First Ministerial
Meeting of the Network in Ottawa I had the opportunity to thematic
areas of lasting value represented by the culture of Peace, the
culture of Social Cohesion, the culture of the Post-industrial Information
Society and Culture as a point where Modernity and Tradition meet.
Like the Meetings in Ottawa and Oaxaca, the Santorini Meeting was
a stage for constructive discussions between the Network's member
states on major issues of an ecumenical nature which determine how
policy is conducted in the domain of culture. Such issues are Cultural
Heritage, Cultural Identity, Cultural Diversity and Cultural Continuity.
In this way, the Network continued to operate as a think tank, enabling
its member states to exchange information on how to implement their
political choices in a spirit of modern awareness, with regard both
to the content of culture and to the strategies for policy implementation.
The subject matter of the Network's Third Meeting was developed
in the following three areas: (1) Cultural Heritage - A dynamic
factor in Cultural Continuity, (2) Cultural Diversity and Cultural
Identity as basic parameters for Globalization, and (3) Cultural
Policy Implementation on the national level. In this context, the
interest and the discussions were focused on the role of the State
with regard both to the protection, promotion and exploitation of
the Cultural Heritage as a whole, and to Cultural Diversity. Particular
emphasis was also given to the concept of "Cultural Identity"
as a determining factor in the current situation of Globalizations
The choice of Santorini as the venue for the Third Ministerial
Meeting is part of the spirit governing precisely these conditions,
because Santorini represents a typical example of a diverse historical
landscape in the context of Aegean Civilization. The island combines
valuable evidence of continuous cultural production over the centuries
with evidence of its role as a crossroads between Eastern and Western
civilizations in an area of the Eastern Mediterranean which is of
particular historical, cultural, political and strategic importance.
In Santorini, the Network's member states were also brought up
to date on the progress of the important activities of the Working
Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization, which as we know
operates within the broader scope of the Network.
At any rate, I am pleased to point out that the Santorini Meeting
was particularly decisive for the Network's political future. I
am also happy to note the numerous offers to host annual Ministerial
Meetings in the years to come, an indication of the member states'
interest in continuing the Network and strengthening international
cooperation in this context. As we all know, apart form Switzerland
and South Africa, who have already agreed to hold the 2001 and 2002
Ministerial Meetings, Croatia, Armenia and Austria have offered
to host future annual Network Meetings. Also significant was the
fact that in Santorini discussions were held on creating Working
Groups (a) on the Cultural Heritage and (b) on the Audio-Visual
sector.
In addition, not long before the Ministerial Meeting convened,
Greece had the pleasure of hosting in Santorini the meeting of the
International Network of Non-governmental governments of the member
states to work constantly and harmoniously with civil society.
At the close of the Meeting in Santorini, Greece officially "handed
over" to Switzerland the responsibility for organizing the
Network's Fourth Ministerial Meeting. I believe that Lucerne is
an ideal setting for such prestigious meetings, because of the city's
cultural importance throughout its long history.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work being
done by the Network's Liaison bureau. Personally I would like to
thank the Liaison Bureau in particular for our good collaboration
during the preparations for the Santorini meeting, during the meeting
itself and during the preparations to publish its proceedings.
With my best wishes for the future of the Network, for the benefit
of Global Culture and Global Society.
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