| Parliamentary Assembly Assembl�e parlementaire |
 |
The cultural situation in the South Caucasus
Recommendation 1599 (2003)
Doc. 10148 revised
27 April 2004
Reply from the Committee of Ministers
adopted at the 881st bis meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (21
April 2004)
1. The Committee of Ministers has considered Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1599 (2003) on the cultural situation in the South Caucasus. Paying particular attention to the difficulties experienced in the region, the Committee of Ministers has continued its efforts, in accordance with the objectives of the Council of Europe, to promote democratic stability, despite the fact that these difficulties negatively affect the application of the Council of Europe’s cultural principles and values in the three countries of the South Caucasus region. The Committee of Ministers would wish to inform the Parliamentary Assembly of the action the Council of Europe has been taking to this end, despite the fact that the Assembly addresses its practical recommendations either to the Council of Europe member states or directly to the three member states concerned, and not to the Committee of Ministers. Information supplementing this reply appears in document CM/AS(2004)Rec1599 Addendum.
General comments
2. The Committee of Ministers fully supports the Assembly’s recommendations on conflict resolution (paragraphs 9i. – v) and recognises the urgency of the settlement of the conflicts which impede the countries’ and the region’s development as a whole. The Committee of Ministers believes that greater attention should be given to the consequences of the ongoing conflicts and their impact on the cultural sphere. In this context, the Committee of Ministers expresses its regret that the regional dimension activities of the Council of Europe have not yet, for the present time, been fully developed and could not attain its goals.
3. Although cultural policy cannot solve all society’s problems, the Committee of Ministers is convinced that culture is a valuable factor that must be taken into account by the member states of the region. It reiterates the importance of regional cultural exchanges, initiatives and assistance programmes taking into account the positions and interests of the member states concerned. Knowledge of the art and culture of another country can promote respect for other peoples, develop peaceful relations, friendship and improve their understanding of other ways of life. The European Cultural Convention of 1954 already translated this position into a legal obligation, requiring each Contracting Party to treat its own heritage as a “national contribution to the common cultural heritage of Europe”. At the same time protection of heritage by the national authorities would allow to ensure a respect for identity and cultural diversity and to support creativity.
4. In addition, the Parliamentary Assemblycalls on the three Republics to accede to the Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The present state of signatures and ratifications of these legal instruments appears in the Appendix to this reply.
Culture
5. The Council of Europe STAGE[1] project (2001-2003)[2] pursued the following general objectives: at multilateral level: to encourage and foster regional initiatives and international co-operation, and at national level to help cultural policy-makers to meet challenges of democratic transition, to modernise relations between public authorities in the cultural sector and civil society; to promote forging a cultural identity, respecting cultural diversity. 40 activities have been organised, involving 40 different international experts and approximately 600 participants. The evaluation of national cultural policies of the three countries is nearing completion. The STAGE project was very positively assessed by the external evaluator, Mr Grzegorz Boguta – Poland (the executive summary of the evaluation report is in Appendix III of document CM/AS(2004)Rec1599 Addendum).
6. Three Ministerial Colloquies of the South Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and of the observer countries (Greece, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine) have been organised. At the 3rd Ministerial Colloquy (Antalya, Turkey, 18-19 September 2003), the participants stressed that the STAGE project had initiated remarkable progress towards the development of efficient cultural policies in the South Caucasus – a priority region for the Council of Europe.The delegations from the three South Caucasus countries, as well as those from the observer and donor countries, underlined the need to continue theSTAGE project. A new “Plan of action for reinforcement of cultural development of South Caucasus and for developing urban cultural policies” was proposed and a further Ministerial Colloquy is due to be held in Moscow at the end of 2004 on the invitation of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation. The Committee of Ministers hopes that it will be possible to consider the holding of meetings of this kind in the region in future.
7. The Final Declaration adopted at this Colloquy appears in Appendix IV of document CM/AS(2004)Rec1599 Addendum. The CDCULT asked the Secretariat to submit to its next Bureau meeting a draft Action Plan, which was done on 15-16 March 2004.
8. The Committee of Ministers also draws attention to the general project "Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict Prevention" (2002-2004), concerning all member states including the three Caucasian countries. This project is intended to analyse the sources of conflict and also to consider reconciliation measures to be taken in the post-conflict phase. The project involves research activities, analysis of good practice and suggestions for cultural action.
9. An informal meeting of the European Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs took place in Strasbourg on 17-18 February 2003 on the theme "The new role and new responsibilities of Ministers of Culture in initiating intercultural dialogue, with due regard for cultural diversity". This was followed by the Ministerial Conference in Opatija (Croatia) on 20-22 October 2003 where a Declaration with the same title was adopted. In this connection, the Committee of Ministerswas informed of the various initiatives at high level proposed by the member states concerned with a view to contributing to inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.
10. The Committee of Ministers attaches importance to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the South Caucasus. The Committee underlines that the cultural heritage of each member state is an indispensable foundation for its national identity. It believes that the utmost should be done for maintenance of the cultural and historical monuments, namely in relation to the conflict zones in the South Caucasus. It has taken note of the written questions by Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians on the situation of the cultural heritage in the region. In the context, the Committee of Ministers was informed of the Parliamentary Assembly’s sub-committee’s intention to assess the state of cultural heritage on the ground.
11. The Council of Europe, in co-operation with UNESCO, is running a Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural Heritage in the South Caucasus (2003-2005). It is an operational framework setting out conditions for exploring new implementation and management methods for urban rehabilitation projects in historic cities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Institutional capacity building processes will be carried out through on-site pilot projects. An individual action plan suitable for each of the three countries is going to be proposed. In Armenia, “terms of reference” for this project have been signed between the Council of Europe and the Ministries of Urban Development, Culture and Youth, and Nature Protection on 8 September 2003. In Georgia, a “Memorandum of Understanding” was signed between the Council of Europe. Ministries of Culture, Urbanisation and Construction, Finance, Foreign Affairs, the Parliament of Georgia and the Municipality of Tbilisi on 12 September 2003. The action plan for Azerbaijan is being prepared with the relevant authorities.
Education
12. The Committee of Ministers recalls that targeted support for educational reforms was extended to the three countries of the South Caucasusimmediately following their accession to the European Cultural Convention in April 1997. In particular, the Legislative Reform Programme for Higher Education and Research provided assistance with reform of education legislation and policy at national level and the “Tbilisi Initiative” brought educators from the region together for the preparation and publication of a joint Caucasian History Textbook. This textbook should be published in 2004.Given this positive development, the Committee reiterates that history teaching in these countries, as anywhere else; should be free from any ideological manipulation, falsification and prejudice in order to rebuild mutual confidence.
13. In 2002, a Framework Programme of Co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Ministries of Education of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia was adopted for the period of 2002-2004. It concentrates assistance and co-operation activities along three lines: structural reform of the education sector through legislative and policy reform; development of curricula, standards and teaching methods in the areas of history, languages, civic and human rights education.
14. The Joint Programme of Co-operation between the European Commission and the Council of Europe for Strengthening Democratic Stability in the South Caucasus included projects for the support of history education (follow-up to the work of the Tbilisi Initiative), education for democratic citizenship and education policy for minorities.
15. The regional project “Legislative Frameworks for Quality Assurance in Education in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia” aimed to create a regional co-ordinating mechanism in the area of higher education quality assurance for the three countries. The project was completed in 2002 having successfully contributed to national reforms and to the fostering of regional dialogue in this area, but having failed, due to the interference of on-going and unresolved conflict in the region, to achieve its ambition of a regional co-operation mechanism.
16. The desire for dialoguebetween the Council of Europe andthe Education Ministries and educators of the region exists nonetheless, and the Council of Europe plans tocontinue to host an annual meeting of the three Ministers of Education to address issues of national andcommon concern for education reform and to co-ordinate co-operation with the Council of Europe in this area. The next Conference of Ministers of Education of the South Caucasus is being planned for the very near future in Strasbourg.
Youth
17. The Committee of Ministers attaches particular importance to raising open-minded, responsible, democratically educated young people. As part of the assistance activities for the youth sector, a number of seminars have been held in the South Caucasus region, including one on promoting intercultural dialogue which took place in Georgia in July 2003, attended by some forty young people active in the voluntary sector.
18. All these activities have been opportunities for discussing the role of and problems faced by young people and youth organisations in promoting a culture of peace in a region which is still suffering the effects of unsettled or latent conflicts.
19. Given that these seminars are held in the regions rather than the capitals, they have also facilitated reflection on relations between regions and capital cities, including debates on access to cultural amenities and opportunities for participation provided by youth NGOs.
20. This effort will continue in 2004 with a seminar on “The role of youth organisations in the reconciliation process in the South Caucasus”.
21. Within the framework of the Democratic Leadership Programme (DLP), an introductory training session was organised in Strasbourg in September 2003 for a group of 20 young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Much of the training focused on confidence-building and negotiation skills; specific attention was also paid, particularly in view of the then-ongoing political processes in those countries, on practical training in the monitoring of and participation in elections, and in relating these issues to working with the media.
22. This is the second group of young people from the South Caucasus to be brought into the DLP and its Alumni network; with the first group from 2002 there are now approximately 45 DLP Alumni in these three countries, which should in the future provide a solid basis for developing multiplier activities within the region.
23. Further to a seminar on “Youth and Conflict Resolution” (Strasbourg, 31 March – 2 April 2003), a first follow-up seminar was held in October 2003 with the 10 young people involved from Armenia and Azerbaijan, by the end of which they had built on their initial contact from the original seminar to the point of developing a common project to promote better understanding between young people from their countries. Preparations for this project will be pursued in 2004.
Appendix 1
|
European Charter for
Regional or Minority Languages |
|
Treaty open for signature by the member States and for accession by non-member States |
|
Opening for signature |
Entry into force |
|
Place: Strasbourg |
Conditions: 5 Ratifications. |
Status as of: 17/3/2004
Member States of the Council of Europe
|
States |
Signature |
Ratification |
Entry into force |
Notes |
R. |
D. |
A. |
T. |
C. |
O. |
|
Albania |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andorra |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armenia |
11/5/2001 |
25/1/2002 |
1/5/2002 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Austria |
5/11/1992 |
28/6/2001 |
1/10/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Azerbaijan |
21/12/2001 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Belgium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bulgaria |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Croatia |
5/11/1997 |
5/11/1997 |
1/3/1998 |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Cyprus |
12/11/1992 |
26/8/2002 |
1/12/2002 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
CzechRepublic |
9/11/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denmark |
5/11/1992 |
8/9/2000 |
1/1/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
Estonia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finland |
5/11/1992 |
9/11/1994 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
France |
7/5/1999 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Georgia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Germany |
5/11/1992 |
16/9/1998 |
1/1/1999 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Greece |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hungary |
5/11/1992 |
26/4/1995 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Iceland |
7/5/1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Italy |
27/6/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latvia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liechtenstein |
5/11/1992 |
18/11/1997 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Lithuania |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luxembourg |
5/11/1992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Malta |
5/11/1992 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moldova |
11/7/2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netherlands |
5/11/1992 |
2/5/1996 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
|
Norway |
5/11/1992 |
10/11/1993 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Poland |
12/5/2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portugal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Romania |
17/7/1995 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russia |
10/5/2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Marino |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serbia and Montenegro |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slovakia |
20/2/2001 |
5/9/2001 |
1/1/2002 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Slovenia |
3/7/1997 |
4/10/2000 |
1/1/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Spain |
5/11/1992 |
9/4/2001 |
1/8/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Sweden |
9/2/2000 |
9/2/2000 |
1/6/2000 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Switzerland |
8/10/1993 |
23/12/1997 |
1/4/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
25/7/1996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turkey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ukraine |
2/5/1996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom |
2/3/2000 |
27/3/2001 |
1/7/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
Non-member States of the Council of Europe
|
States |
Signature |
Ratification |
Entry into force |
Notes |
R. |
D. |
A. |
T. |
C. |
O. |
|
Total number of signatures not followed by ratifications: |
13 |
|
Total number of ratifications/accessions: |
17 |
Notes:a: Accession - s: Signature without reservation
as to ratification - su: Succession - r: Signature "ad referendum".
R.: Reservations - D.: Declarations - A.: Authorities - T.: Territorial Application
- C.: Communication - O.: Objection.
Appendix 2
|
Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities |
|
Treaty open for signature by the member States and up until the date of entry into force by any other State so invited by the Committee of Ministers |
|
Opening for signature |
Entry into force |
|
Place: Strasbourg |
Conditions: 12 Ratifications. |
Status as of: 17/3/2004
Member States of the Council of Europe
|
States |
Signature |
Ratification |
Entry into force |
Notes |
R. |
D. |
A. |
T. |
C. |
O. |
|
Albania |
29/6/1995 |
28/9/1999 |
1/1/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andorra |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armenia |
25/7/1997 |
20/7/1998 |
1/11/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austria |
1/2/1995 |
31/3/1998 |
1/7/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Azerbaijan |
|
26/6/2000 a |
1/10/2000 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Belgium |
31/7/2001 |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
24/2/2000 a |
1/6/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bulgaria |
9/10/1997 |
7/5/1999 |
1/9/1999 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Croatia |
6/11/1996 |
11/10/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyprus |
1/2/1995 |
4/6/1996 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CzechRepublic |
28/4/1995 |
18/12/1997 |
1/4/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denmark |
1/2/1995 |
22/9/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Estonia |
2/2/1995 |
6/1/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Finland |
1/2/1995 |
3/10/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
France |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Georgia |
21/1/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Germany |
11/5/1995 |
10/9/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Greece |
22/9/1997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hungary |
1/2/1995 |
25/9/1995 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iceland |
1/2/1995 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ireland |
1/2/1995 |
7/5/1999 |
1/9/1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Italy |
1/2/1995 |
3/11/1997 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latvia |
11/5/1995 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liechtenstein |
1/2/1995 |
18/11/1997 |
1/3/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Lithuania |
1/2/1995 |
23/3/2000 |
1/7/2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luxembourg |
20/7/1995 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Malta |
11/5/1995 |
10/2/1998 |
1/6/1998 |
|
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Moldova |
13/7/1995 |
20/11/1996 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netherlands |
1/2/1995 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
1/2/1995 |
17/3/1999 |
1/7/1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poland |
1/2/1995 |
20/12/2000 |
1/4/2001 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Portugal |
1/2/1995 |
7/5/2002 |
1/9/2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Romania |
1/2/1995 |
11/5/1995 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Russia |
28/2/1996 |
21/8/1998 |
1/12/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
San Marino |
11/5/1995 |
5/12/1996 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serbia and Montenegro |
|
11/5/2001 a |
1/9/2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slovakia |
1/2/1995 |
14/9/1995 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Slovenia |
1/2/1995 |
25/3/1998 |
1/7/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Spain |
1/2/1995 |
1/9/1995 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sweden |
1/2/1995 |
9/2/2000 |
1/6/2000 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Switzerland |
1/2/1995 |
21/10/1998 |
1/2/1999 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia |
25/7/1996 |
10/4/1997 |
1/2/1998 |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Turkey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ukraine |
15/9/1995 |
26/1/1998 |
1/5/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom |
1/2/1995 |
15/1/1998 |
1/5/1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-member States of the Council of Europe
|
States |
Signature |
Ratification |
Entry into force |
Notes |
R. |
D. |
A. |
T. |
C. |
O. |
|
Total number of signatures not followed by ratifications: |
7 |
|
Total number of ratifications/accessions: |
35 |
Notes:a: Accession - s: Signature without
reservation as to ratification - su: Succession - r: Signature "ad
referendum".
R.: Reservations - D.: Declarations - A.: Authorities - T.: Territorial
Application - C.: Communication - O.: Objection.
[1] Support for Transition in the Arts and Culture in Greater Europe.
[2] The calendar of STAGE Activities for 2001-2003 appears in Appendix II of document CM/AS(2004)Rec1599 Addendum.