Address by ambassador Tauno Pesola, Chair of CBSS/CSO: Ministerial Conference of Culture in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, Oulu, 9 Sept. 2002

Mr. Tauno Pesola,
Ambassador,
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

at the The third Conference of the Ministers of Culture in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region in Oulu, Finland, 9-10 September 2002


Madam Chair,
ladies and gentlemen,

I am grateful to the organisers for inviting the Finnish presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) to this important event.

Finland took over the chairmanship in the CBSS in June this year, after the 4th Baltic Sea States Summit in St. Petersburg. (Finland is today a kind of super power in the regional co-operation as we occupy for the time being the presidencies both in the Arctic Council and in the CBSS.)

With the European Union´s policies of the Northern Dimension as an umbrella the Heads of Government of the Baltic Sea States have given guidelines for our regional co-operation. Also the work of the Ministers of Culture has been noted by our Summits. (As our Danish colleague already described the future process for the ND I wouldn´t touch upon it in more detail.)

A year ago in September, 2001, the Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea States met in Copenhagen for their fifth Conference. During the presentations and discussions, the Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing cultural co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region.

The common cultural heritage can be noted as a factor that binds the different countries in the region together. At the same time the diversity and differences of the cultural heritage and ongoing projects in the various fields of culture give the different countries close and unique possibilities of multicultural co-operation.

The co-operation in the field of culture in our region has been growing during last years. It has developed from ad hoc projects, tentative direct contacts between artists and cultural workers, to well oiled cultural networks, cooperation between state institutions and a natural and growing exchange of artists, exhibitions, concerts and plays. Ars Baltica network can be presented as one of such kind of cultural cooperation. Its intention is to enhance cultural identity in the region and also realize projects of the European significance. Network aims to develop in the direction of a communication centre and a structured and organized market place of new ideas. Though the governments perhaps should a bit reserved while boasting with the Ars Baltica as it has been an endeavour very much lying on the responsibility of the NGOs.


Madam Chair,

if and when we are trying to build a regional identity for our regions, the cultural co-operation has a decisive role.

Among the countries both in the Baltic and in the Barents Euro-Arctic region we can find a lot of common aims, achievements, problems and the same time common priorities of cultural cooperation in both regions. This concerns the development of cross-border contacts, cultural heritage, international cultural relations, and last but not least tourism. This gives us the basis for the fruitful discussions and exchange of views about further steps to strengthen the sub-regional cooperation in the field of culture.

Madam Chair,

we feel confident that our regional co-operation arrangements up in the North, BEAC, AC and CBSS as well as the Nordic co-operation could achieve quite a lot with joint efforts. This is a wish which obviously will be met in the conclusions of this meeting.

I would like to conclude by wishing you all a very concrete and productive discussion.

Thank you for the attention.