UNESCO and the Hellenic Republic, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, organised this Friday June 13, 2008 in Athens, Greece, the VIth Summit of the Heads of State of South-East Europe, entitled “Intercultural Encounters on Maritime, River and Lake Routes”. It follows those of Bucharest and Sibiu (Romania, 2007), Opatja (Croatia, 2006), Varna (Bulgaria, 2005), Tirana (Albania, 2004) and Ohrid (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 2003 ), as a continuation of the High-Level Conference on Strengthening Co-operation in South-East Europe held in April 2002 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

Program of the Summit Athens 2008

Athens Summit was attended by Their Excellencies President Bamir Topi of Albania, President Haris Silajdžić, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Gueorgui Parvanov of Bulgaria, President Stjepan Mesić of Croatia, President Karolos Papoulias of the Hellenic Republic, President Filip Vujanović of Montenegro, President Boris Tadić of Serbia, and high-level representatives of Turkey and Romania, respectively Mr. Mehmet Aydin, Minister of State of Turkey and Mr. András István Demeter, Secretary of State, Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs of Romania.

Preceeding the Summit, a series of meetings between experts from the participating countries were held to examine the importance of maritime, river and lake routes as networks of intercultural communication, having had decisive impact on the ways of living and value and knowledge systems of the region’s inhabitants. In particular, experts considered the possibility of launching joint pilot projects along the sea routes.

The joint final document adopted by the Presidents of Croatia, Albania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, emphasizes the role of cultural routes, itineraries and corridors as platforms for regional cooperation and stresses that “no civilization and no culture is monolithic as both are the result of millenia of contacts and exchanges.” Projects considered in the “Athens Declaration” include the mapping of water-related tangible and intangible heritage in the region, the safeguarding of cultural landscapes, archæological sites, historic cities, monuments, as well as cultural and natural sites. In particular, in this document, Presidents express their common will to preserve maritime archæological sites and to promote underwater archæological research, to protect marine, river and lake biospheres, to develop joint research, training and capacity-building opportunities in the areas of conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage, to raise young people’s awareness on the importance of this heritage, and to promote artistic and cultural activities.

Text of the Athens Declaration

This Summit was also the occasion for H.E. President Filip Vujanović to hold various bilateral talks with UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, and the other Presidents and representatives. Next regional Summit of South-East Europe will be hosted in June 2009 by Montenegro on the theme of “Management of heritage diversity and its promotion for tourism”. Turkey announced its intention to host the 2010 Summit in Istanbul.

Following is the text of President Filip Vujanović’s address at the VIth Summit of the Heads of State of South-East Europe, in Athens, Greece, June 13:

DEAR PRESIDENT PAPOULIAS,
MR. MATSUURA,
DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

It is with great pleasure that I participate at the Summit of the Heads of State of the South-Eastern Europe, which has traditionally been affirming the values of partnership, sending the messages of peace, tolerance and regional and global prosperity.

We owe special thanks to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Papoulias, for excellent organization of the Summit as well as for the choice of a very inspiring topic that offers a wide room for confirmation of the values to which the Summit has been dedicated. Previous Summits have valorized the wealth of the cultural heritage- an exceptional heritage of the South East Europe, which points out, strongly and constantly, that this region has been one of the cradles of the world civilization and that it should be valued and promoted as such. It is for the sake of such heritage and, equally important, our common European future, that recent history of the Western Balkans, particularly ex-Yugoslav countries, should be marked as a disaster that permanently warns and at the same time obliges to reconciliation and genuine friendship that serves as a foundation for common progress.

Just as the cultural heritage wealth does not recognize state boundaries, the same applies to the natural wealth, areas and water courses. Cultural wealth bestowed on us creative work of previous generations, while nature itself essentially presented its wealth through a unique message — that state borders make no harm to the integrity of such wealth. This means obligation of each state to affirm integrity of the cultural and natural wealth in co-operation with its neighbours and countries of the region, as only in this manner will the wealth on its territory have its full value. The topic of this Summit, bringing together cultural and natural heritage, points to their interdependence and need to have both careful approach and responsible co-operation in this regard. Commitment to preserving its own cultural and natural heritage in co-operation with other countries has been high on agenda of the state policy of Montenegro in this very important field.

Montenegro, as an old European country and the youngest member of the United Nations has inherited a rich cultural heritage. It testifies on multiethnic and multi-religious co-existence within the three great civilizations and three religions- Orthodox, Islam and Catholic- which left many diverse spiritual and material values on the territory of the present Montenegro.

At the same time, very attractive geographic position has presented Montenegro with extraordinary natural wealth i.e. waters. Montenegro has sea, many attractive lakes and clean and fast running rivers, which makes water routes through Montenegro a valuable area for establishing connections with neighbours and countries of the region. Since earliest times, Montenegrin sea, lake and river waters have been vary favourable for settlement, being also very important cultural corridors. Along Montenegrin river valleys, there are many archeological sites since the Paleolithic through Mesolithic and Neolithic to Metal Period. At the junction of the two biggest Montenegrin rivers, Zeta and Morača, there is one of the oldest urban centers in the South East Europe, town of Doclea. After Diocletian’s reforms and establishment of the province of Prevalis, this settlement also became its center, after which the first state on the territory of the present day Montenegro was named. Area around the Tara river has regional and global value, and its canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world after Colorado. The Tara river canyon has been under double UNESCO protection- as World Natural Heritage and World Biosphere Reserve, which has been shared natural value of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Area of the Skadar Lake, which is one of the largest lakes in Europe, has, apart from its unique natural beauties, always represented a place of creation, development and evanescence of numerous civilizations. Middle-age cultural monuments are particularly noteworthy, as being very attractive and unique by its characteristics. Among many edifices that have been located along the shore and islands of the Skadar Lake, particular value is attached to the monasteries, rulers’ endowments, which testify that this region used to be a seat of Old Zeta — a state that preceded Montenegro. The Skadar Lake region is an area under protection as Ramsar site. Academies of Science and Art of Montenegro and Albania and the Governments of the two states, have joint projects aimed at preservation and valorization of the Skadar Lake.

Advantages and privileges of a life at seaside led to settlement of these areas even during the prehistoric times. Traces of Greek and Roman civilization can be seen at each part of the Adriatic coast. Intensive contacts overseas brought about creation of the Boka Navy in the town of Kotor in 9th century, so the traces of pre-Roman, Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Venice period can now be seen in the town.

After restoration of its independence, Montenegro has undertaken significant steps towards valorization, research and protection of underwater archeology. Sea bottom research has been underway and 29 submarine sites have been recorded so far, which should be further researched and protected in co-operation with Croatia and Albania, and other countries of the Adriatic Sea. The Parliament of Montenegro has adopted the European Convention on Cultural Heritage Protection, which also applies to its water routes.

I express once more appreciation for organization of the highly important Summit and also my pleasure that the next Summit will be held in Montenegro, where we will affirm tourist valorization of the cultural heritage given that it also has special importance in terms of tourism.

Thanks for attention!
Athens, Greece, June 13, 2008.