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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-13
CONTENTS
[01] Athens Summit on water routes
[01] Athens Summit on water routes
President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias officially opened the 6th
Regional Summit Forum of Heads of State of South Eastern Europe, or
"Athens Summit: Intercultural encounters on maritime, river and lake
routes of South East Europe" on Friday. The culture ministry-organized
summit, aimed at strengthening cooperation, communication, mutual
understanding and dialogue while focusing on the role of the water
element in forming and spreading culture in the region, is held under
the auspices of UNESCO and the Council of Europe chaired by President
Karolos Papoulias. The forum is held in continuation of the meetings
held in Ohrid (2003), Tirana (2004), Varna (2005), Opatija (2006) and
Bucharest-Sibiu (2007). All were aimed at boosting regional cooperation
on cultural level, while protecting regional cultural heritageand
projecting it as a decisive factor in the dynamic development of SE
Europe. Opening the conference proceedings, Papoulias referred to the
peoples' aspirations concerning development, stability, peace, progress
and prosperity, pointing out that Greece's initiative adopted in the
meeting in Varna aims at highlighting the perpetual intercultural
communication achieved via maritime, river and lake routes. Papoulias
encouraged participants to a fruitful cooperation through the
systematic mapping of historical water routes that will allow the
surfacing of a heritage that concerns the people's daily lives and is
not limited strictly to cultural and historic monuments. Addressing
the meeting, Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis, the coordinator of the
forum proceedings, stressed that water routes allow for communication,
exchange of goods and ideas, greater knowledge, friendship ties and
reconciliation. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic underlined that
sustainable development that respects the environment is necessary,
stressing that the region has become the target of greedy profiteers.
President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov pointed out that the region's
peoples will have to realize that they have a lot in common and
announced that Bulgarian ambassador to Paris Irina Bokova will be
backed by his country for the UNESCO Director-General position.
Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic stressed that cultural wealth is
the creative work of past generations that needs to be protected,
adding that his country has ratified the European treaty for the
protection of cultural heritage. Serbia supports all efforts aimed at
greater cooperation and understanding among peoples, stressed Serb
President Boris Tadic and, referring to the damage caused to religious
monuments in his country, stated that roughly 150 churches and
monasteries have been damaged during the past nine years while many
monuments are still in danger. He expressed optimism that a compromise
will be reached in Kosovo, stressing that a historical agreement, a
solution with democratic means ratified by the UN, is possible. He also
underlined that the future lies with the EU and regional cooperation is
helpful toward this direction. Albanian President Bamir Topi
underlined that his country has enacted legislation aimed at protecting
cultural heritage, adding that its goal is good neighbourly relations
and EU membership. Bosnia-Herzegovina Tripartite Presidency Chairman
Haris Silajdzic stressed that the multicultural character of societies
should be protected and accession into NATO and the EU is helpful.
UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura stated that water routes need
protection underlining that cooperation is necessary toward this
direction. Turkey's Minister of State Mehmet Aydin suggested the
creation of a website with virtual cultural routes in SE Europe and
Romania's deputy culture and religious affairs minister referred to the
need for the protection of the Danube River and its estuary. Council
of Europe coordinator for intercultural dialogue Gabriella
Battaini-Dragoni stressed that the forum helps establish mutual
understanding among peoples and added that the participating heads of
state are determined to support cultural heritage and
multiculturalism. The forum proceedings will be completed later in the
afternoon with the signing of the Declaration of Athens and statements
made by participating heads of state and delegations.
Caption: President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias (R) receives
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on the steps of Zappeion Hall,
shortly before the start of the Athens Summit: Intercultural encounters
on maritime, river and lake routes of South East Europe", on Friday,
June 13, 2008. ANA-MPA / SIMELA PANTZARTZI.
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