europa nostra newsletter

CAMPAIGNING FOR HERITAGE AT RISK

Since July 2006, Europa Nostra has...

Organised a Forum on the Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: From Apple of Discord to Ferment of Reconciliation (Canisy / Paris, France, 11 - 14 November) in conjunction with the Autumn meeting of its Council (Paris, France, 15 November 2006)
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Coordinated the drafting jointly with other international heritage organizations of an appeal for the protection of the endangered cultural heritage in Israel and Lebanon (the appeal was issued on 10 August 2006)
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Participated in the International Conference "Culture is a Basic Need: Responding to Cultural Emergencies" organised by “Cultural Emergency Response” (The Hague, The Netherlands, 25 - 26 September 2006)
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Participated in the International Blue Shield Committee Meeting (The Hague, The Netherlands, 28 September 2006)
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Took note of the European Parliament Resolution on the cultural heritage in Northern Cyprus
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Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: From Apple of Discord to Ferment of Reconciliation

Canisy / Paris, France, 11 - 14 November
On the occasion of its Council Meeting held in Paris, France, on 15 November 2006, Europa Nostra organised a Forum bringing together various stakeholders in the field of cultural heritage conservation from Kosovo and the wider region in order to identify the current threats and opportunities in heritage conservation. The Forum took place on 14 November at the UNESCO Headquarters. It brought together 100 participants from local, regional and international organisations (both governmental and non-governmental) active in the field of heritage protection in Kosovo. After the introductory speech by Europa Nostra Executive President Andrea H. Schuler, Françoise Bujon Barré, Deputy Director for Political Affairs, expressed the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this initiative.

The discussions during the Forum benefited from the atmosphere of openness and mutual respect that had been created during a series of preparatory meetings which took place at the Château de Canisy ( Normandy ) by invitation of Denis de Kergorlay, Europa Nostra Vice-President, who also heads the Europa Nostra Kosovo Task Force. These encounters enabled 38 professionals from Kosovo/UNMIK, Serbia and neighbouring countries to meet for the first time in an informal setting and discuss issues of common concern.

All participants recognised the important achievements realised by international organisations such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission, UNESCO and UNMIK, to help build bridges between the local stakeholders. Europa Nostra’s present initiative was seen as a valuable civil society contribution to all these efforts. “The meetings in Canisy and in Paris have clearly demonstrated that promoting inter-cultural dialogue in South-East Europe constitutes an immediate challenge for Europe, both for its Institutions and for its civil society. Collectively, we indeed have an important task: to continue to help the local communities to overcome the “logic of confrontation” and to embark upon a “positive spiral” of mutual understanding and confidence building, for the benefit of the safeguard of the cultural heritage and more generally for the benefit of the lasting stability and future prosperity of the entire region”, stressed Denis de Kergorlay, Europa Nostra’s Vice-President, in his concluding remarks at the Forum.

The issues discussed and the main conclusions and recommendations were summarised in a preliminary report available on Europa Nostra’s website or from the International Secretariat in The Hague.


Further information: Mark Snethlage, Policy and Campaigns Officer, imo@europanostra.org
www.europanostra.org/lang_en/0228_activities_events_forum_2006_kosovo.html



Appeal for the protection of the endangered cultural heritage in Israel and Lebanon

10 August 2006
During the latest armed conflict involving Israel and Lebanon in July and August 2006, Europa Nostra, fully aware of and deploring the scale of the human tragedy that was unfolding, decided to launch an appeal to all parties directly and indirectly concerned by the conflict drawing their attention to the rich cultural heritage that was at risk. It sought and obtained the support of five other international heritage organisations: the International Council on Archives (ICA), the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Council on Museums (ICOM) and the Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). A joint statement refered to the 1954 “Convention of The Hague on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict”, and asked that experts should be granted access as soon as possible to the sites in the conflict area to assess the possible damage and propose restoration measures. Soon after the end of the conflict on 11 August 2006, a UNESCO expert team, led by Mounir Bouchenaki, Director of ICCROM, visited Lebanon and reported that the direct damage to cultural property had been moderate, but that ancient structures seemed to have suffered from vibrations caused by the shells. The experts also reported that the oil spill that affected Byblos presented a real threat to the population, the environment and the archaeological remains and needed urgent cleaning.


Further information: text of the appeal
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/283



“Culture is a Basic Need: Responding to Cultural Emergencies”

The Hague, The Netherlands, 25 and 26 September 2006
On 25 and 26 September 2006 the Prince Claus Fund organised an international conference, "Culture is a Basic Need: Responding to Cultural Emergencies" in The Hague. This conference was held as a part of the Fund’s Cultural Emergency Response (CER) program. CER aims to provide global “first aid” for cultural heritage that is threatened by man-made or natural disasters. The conference brought together experts from various fields: humanitarian aid workers, artists, curators, restorers and academics. On 25 September Jan Pronk, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Sudan, and Margareta Wahlström, the UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator spoke about the importance of culture and its protection in humanitarian emergency situations. Jan Pronk’s lecture, titled “Wisdom, Devotion and Modesty” is available from PCFs website. The opening session was followed by a meeting for international experts in the fields of humanitarian emergency relief, cultural heritage, politics, cultural law, and conflict and climate studies. This expert meeting consisted of various workshops where the practical reality of cultural emergency relief was examined against a background of disasters caused by armed conflict, natural catastrophes and/or climate change. Eléonore de Mérode, Mark Snethlage and Sander van der Ven, members of Europa Nostra’s International Secretariat took part in the Conference on behalf of Europa Nostra.


Further information: Iwana Chronis, Prince Claus Fund / Culture Emergency Response, i.chronis@princeclausfund.nl
www.princeclausfund.nl



‘Towards a Solid Organization: Infrastructure and Awareness’

Blue Shield Conference, The Hague, 27- 28 September 2006
On 28 September, representatives of national Blue Shield committees and other interested parties gathered in The Hague to discuss ways for a more efficient and result driven cooperation in the field of cultural emergency relief in disaster or war situations. It was agreed that the creation of an Association of National Blue Shield Committees (ANBSC) would improve efficiency in sharing experiences and coordinating emergency response as a Red Cross for culture. The current International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS) in Paris will still exist, being an international board approving national committees. To organise this, a clear structure is needed. The ANSBC will be a structure for exchanging information, a communication centre, an archive. The The Hague municipality offered to find an office and some funds needed to launch the project. Europa Nostra was represented at this meeting by Sander van der Ven.


Further information: www.blueshield.nl/conference-2006/



European Parliament adopted a Declaration on the protection and preservation of the religious heritage in the northern part of Cyprus

Brussels, Belgium, 30 August 2006
Since 1974, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has been unable to exercise control over the northern part of Cyprus. According to the EP, more than 133 churches, chapels and monasteries that are located in the northern part of Cyprus controlled by the Turkish army since 1974 have been desecrated, 78 churches have been converted into mosques, 28 are used as military depots and hospitals and 13 are used as stockyards, and their ecclesiastical items, including more than 15,000 icons, have been illegally removed and their location remains unknown.

Therefore, MEPs have adopted a written declaration condemning the pillage of Greek Orthodox churches and monasteries and the removal of their ecclesiastical items. MEPs call on the Commission and the Council to take the necessary actions to ensure respect for the Treaty and the protection and restoration of the affected churches to their original Greek Orthodox status. So far, 403 MEPs have signed the written declaration. The written declaration also calls on the Commission and the Council to examine this matter under the relevant chapters of the negotiations with Turkey.

A written declaration is a text of a maximum of 200 words on a matter falling within the European Union’s sphere of activities. A group of up to five MEPs can submit a written declaration by presenting a text to be signed by their colleagues. If the declaration is signed by more than half of all 732 MEPs, it is forwarded to the President, who announces adopted in plenary.


Further information: Declaration on the protection and preservation of the religious heritage in the northern part of Cyprus