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Doc. 9458

7 May 2002

Cultural heritage

Information report¹

Committee on Culture, Science and Education

General Rapporteur on the Cultural Heritage: Mrs Vlasta Stepova, Czech Republic, Socialist Group

1. In conclusion to my duties as General Rapporteur on the Cultural Heritage, I submit the following report.

2. The post of General Rapporteur was set up by the Assembly in 1976 as a sort of ombudsperson for the heritage (Recommendation 788). It has been held by Lord Duncan-Sandys, MM Flanagan, van der Werff, Tummers, Baroness Hooper and Mr Staes. I succeeded to the post in December 1999 and relinquish it now in May 2002.

3. I have addressed in particular three major issues: Cyprus, Ilisu and the Romanian national treasure. On each of them I would like to submit information reports. My hope is that the involvement of the Assembly has in each represented a constructive step towards resolution of the problems involved. I would stress in particular the importance, both in terms of perspective gained and impact, of on site study visits.

4. On the cultural heritage of Cyprus (Doc. 9460)

4.1. I visited the island twice in 2000 (September and November). My main impression was then of the vulnerability of the heritage in the northern part (especially to tourism when the present political barriers are removed). I was also concerned at the isolation of the north from international resources for heritage work (academic, restoration skills and funding).

4.2. An agreement was reached in December last year for the creation of a European Foundation for the cultural and natural heritage of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot community has since expressed reserves, apparently on the question of ownership. Negotiations are nevertheless going ahead with Council of Europe legal advisors in the search of a compromise formulation.

4.3. Following talks in Strasbourg this week with Mr Denktash I am aware how necessary it is to maintain our insistance on the cultural heritage problems in the north. I am also disturbed at news of continuing excavation of archaeological sites there without reference to the international community.

4.4. I must also of course regret the departure from the Cypriot parliament of former colleague Takis Hadjidemetriou. He was at the origin of our latest initiative and worked hard to forge an agreement to protect the heritage of the whole island, for example in rejecting in November 2000 proposals for the construction of the new parliament building on a sensitive archaeological site in Nicosia.

4.5. For information I submit the reports of my study visit to Cyprus in 2000 and the related draft proposal for the European Foundation.

5. On the Ilisu dam in Turkey.

5.1. I can already refer to my information report of December 2001 (Doc 9301).

5.2. There has been no sign that the Turkish Government has since secured funding for the construction of this dam on the River Tigris in upper Mesopotamia. Turkish archaeologists reported on the subject to the conference of the European council of Archaeology in Strasbourg in March 2002 and there has been some movement towards better coordination in Ankara of archaeological work. I understand that an exhibition on the related archaeological problems of dams on the Euphrates (and the unexpected finds at Zeugma) will be presented in Strasbourg on the occasion of the June part-session. This should also provide an opportunity to carry forward the search for international assistance for rescue archaeology on the Tigris.

6. On the Romanian national treasure.

6.1. A provisional information report is submitted (Doc. 9459) This will be revised to take account of the study visit I shall be making to Moscow on 13-14 May. At this stage however I very much welcome the fact that both sides appear to be making positive moves towards engaging in bilateral discussion of the question.

7. There are several other issues in abeyance. Perhaps most significant is that of the site of the Battle of Marathon in Greece. This may be affected by sports installations for the coming Olympic Games. The Greek authorities are balancing the opportunity to develop the site with environmental and cultural concerns. A further communication is expected from them.

8. The activity of the General Rapporteur is but part of the Assembly’s work for the cultural heritage and the General Rapporteur does not act alone. The major centre of our activity is the Sub-Committee on the Cultural Heritage chaired by Senator Jacques Legendre. A number of reports were produced as the Assembly’s contribution to the European campaign in 2000-2001 (Mr Eversdijk on cathedrals, Mr Legendre on reuses for civic architecture and Mr O’Hara on maritime heritage). Other reports are currently under preparation (Baroness Hooper on tax incentives for conservation, Mr Legendre on African art, Mr O’Hara on art history, Mr Valk on the spirit of Europe in museums). There is constant interaction with the various governmental (CDPAT in particular, but also Unesco) and non-governmental bodies in the heritage field . We are currently working on the reestablishment of contact with the European Union (and Parliament). It will be interesting to see what comes out of the recent involvement of the Assembly (Mr Lemoine) in the development of the European cultural itineraries by Luxembourg.

¹ Approved by the committee on 25 April 2002