Frulla rallies troops around draft text on the protection of cultural diversity

Canada is pushing to have a draft text for the protection of diversity of cultural content and artistic expression ironed out at an intergovernmental meeting being held last week and this in Paris. The ultimate goal, according to Canadian Heritage minister Liza Frulla, is to have the text officially adopted at the next general meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in October. "…The convention addresses a key issue for our societies: the preservation of our own identities," said Frulla during a May 16 address before 65 ambassadors at an Ottawa luncheon aimed at garnering support for the text in advance of the Paris meetings. "I firmly believe that each country must have the right and the means to adopt its own cultural policies and to promote its own modes of cultural expression. This is the only way for us to ensure that the diversity of cultural expression is not just maintained but developed, within our countries as well as internationally." A new draft text of the convention, prepared by Kader Asmal, who chairs the work of the intergovernmental experts, was circulated earlier this month. The text, said Frulla, is a solid base on which to pursue discussions in Paris. The idea is to ensure world markets for cultural exports from Canada and elsewhere in a world increasingly subject to transnational trade agreements by treating cultural goods separately from other commodities in international trade deals. During her speech, the Canadian Heritage minister stressed how "crucial the coming weeks will be to the progress of this vital project." If the draft convention doesn’t receive the support of at least 30 countries in October, it will have to wait until 2007, the next time that UNESCO is scheduled to meet. Frulla faces a formidable opponent in the United States, which continues to see the initiative as being counter to trade agreements (CCR, Sept. 13/01). "Canada needs you, culture worldwide needs you," Frulla said during the address, as she urged the representatives present to help make other countries understand the importance of cultural diversity. "It is urgent for all of us to make common cause to finalize the draft convention and to ensure that it is adopted next fall at UNESCO." Frulla was quick to add that the objective of the cultural diversity instrument is not to build barriers or resort to protectionism, but to promote an even greater diversity in cultural expression. "Our stories, our viewpoints and our experiences must be shared with our fellow citizens and the entire world," she noted. She pointed out that 10 of Canada’s Aboriginal languages have died out, while 34 other languages have suffered the same fate. "English, French and Aboriginal languages are closely linked with our culture and our identity. And that is why we want to protect them," she said. "But all our efforts within Canada to promote the vitality of our languages and culture must be accompanied by action internationally to enable the world’s cultures to express themselves, interact and enrich each other." The draft convention was introduced last summer, was revamped earlier this month, and discussions on it resumed last week in Paris. Canada’s cultural circles have been a strong supporter of the cultural diversity instrument (CCR, Aug. 15/02). The concept is one that was developed under former Canadian Heritage minister Sheila Copps. A meeting held by Copps in June 1998 led to the founding of the International Network on Cultural Policy, which has acted as a catalyst for the drafting of the convention.

Frulla rallies troops around draft text on the protection of cultural diversity

Broadcast | May 30, 2005

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