Recommendation 1599
(2003)1
The cultural situation
in the South Caucasus
1. The Parliamentary
Assembly has followed closely cultural developments in the South Caucasus
region during the transitional period, including the historical background
and the impact on culture of the economic and political situation. In this
context, culture is used in its broad sense to include the arts, heritage,
religion, media, science, education, youth and sport.
2.
The Assembly is concerned by the difficult overall political and economic
situation in the three South Caucasus countries. It stresses the importance
of the contribution of the cultural sector to the stability of the region.
3.
It emphasises, however, the need for international aid to this sector
through co-operation with the countries and through foreign investments and
assistance, for example in the form of subsidies to enable European networks
in the fields of education, science and culture to hold their meetings in
the region.
4.
There is a need for improving cultural policies in the countries involved
and for improving cultural co-operation, not only within the region but also
with the neighbouring countries and with the whole
area covered by the European Cultural Convention (ETS No. 18).
5.
The Assembly welcomes the contribution already made by the Council of Europe
at individual, regional and multilateral levels by initiating educational
and cultural projects for the Caucasian republics.
6.
It notes, in particular, the series of informal conferences involving the
ministers of culture and of education. It also welcomes the contribution all
three republics made to the recent informal meeting of the European
Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs in Strasbourg in February 2003.
7.
It stresses the importance of involving young people actively in the
cultural and political development of the region.
8.
The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers encourage
the member states of the Council of Europe to:
i.
contribute to the preparation and funding of programmes
and projects relating to the various fields of culture in the region;
ii.
provide financial and technical support to the countries in the region for
structural reforms of the education system, especially in education for
democratic citizenship and in higher education and research;
iii.
develop co-operation between the three countries in all cultural fields;
iv.
support and facilitate the development of regional co-operation in the
cultural sector through the creation of regional structures and the
promotion of regional initiatives, including encouraging relevant regional
networking of non-governmental organisations;
v.
promote activities involving civil society, and in particular those aiming
at preparing young people for an active role in the democratic and
cultural life of the region.
9.
The Assembly calls on the South Caucasian republics to:
on
conflict resolution
i.
refrain from the politicisation of the
cultural sector;
ii.
abstain from using cultural values and property for political ends;
iii.
seek the peaceful settlement of existing controversies in the cultural
sector;
iv.
work on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and mutual respect;
v.
discourage the expression of ultra-nationalism and ensure positive
attitudes;
on
cultural diversity and minorities
vi.
adopt measures to maintain and promote linguistic and cultural
diversity;
vii.
accede to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ETS
No. 148) and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities (ETS No. 157);
viii.
protect the existence and the national or ethnic, cultural, religious
and linguistic identities of minorities within their respective
territories, encourage initiatives for the promotion of these identities
and develop cross-community understanding of the differences;
ix.
provide for and facilitate the effective participation rights of
minorities in political, social and economic life, in keeping with
international norms;
on
culture in general
x.
improve legislation relating to the fields of culture, including the
status of languages, and amend all provisions which interfere with
international co-operation;
xi.
develop inclusive and intercultural educational provisions and curricula
that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to ensure that all
groups have an understanding of their multicultural society, but with
particular emphasis on the younger generation, and that there are shared
and common values in the public domain which evolve through democratic
consultation;
xii.
seek international funding for the implementation of concrete projects
in the fields of culture;
on
media
xiii.
support the development of pluralistic public service broadcasting to
guarantee freedom of expression in the media, in line with the standards
of the Council of Europe;
on
education
xiv.
pursue the reform of education systems in general, with special
reference to history teaching, education for democratic citizenship and
the development of language teaching, in the light of the declarations
adopted by the ministers of education of the region;
xv.
strengthen teacher education and especially for linguistic minorities;
xvi.
support mobility and exchange programmes for students and young people;
xvii.
increase the budgets for education and educational co-operation;
on
young people
xviii.
encourage the development of formal and informal structures for the
participation of young people in civil activities and cultural life;
on
heritage
xix.
avoid accusing, without sufficient evidence,
neighbouring governments of damaging and
appropriating their cultural heritage;
xx.
work together on the documentation and preservation of cultural heritage
at the regional level, and not least in relation to conflict zones
(Georgian heritage in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Armenian heritage in
Azerbaijan and Georgia, Azeri heritage in Armenian-occupied territory,
and so on), using such co-operation to build confidence and nurture
respect for each other’s cultural traditions and achievements;
xxi.
support and develop institutional networks aiming to promote and develop
the cultural heritage of the peoples of their countries, including that
of past or minority ethnic groups.
1.
Assembly debate on 1 April 2003 (11th Sitting) (see Doc. 9736,
report of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, rapporteur: Mr
Abbasov).
Text adopted by the
Assembly on 1 April 2003 (11th Sitting).
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