Press Release: Cultural diversity : a major step towards the adoption of a UNESCO Convention

The negotiation of a draft UNESCO Convention on cultural diversity was concluded successfully in Paris on 3 June 2005. The third negotiating session adopted a revised draft Convention and recommended to the next UNESCO General Conference (October 2005) to adopt it. As per the mandate given by the Council in November 2004, the European Commission negotiated on behalf of the European Community. The revised draft Convention legitimises cultural policies and promotes international cooperation. It reaffirms the respect of international obligations whilst obliging Parties to take into account cultural diversity objectives when applying and interpreting all their international obligations, and when negotiating new international commitments.

• Primary Source

UNESCO: Culture: Cultural Diversity http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=2450&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

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