SPEECH OF THE AMBASSADOR OF SPAIN IN ALBANIA MANUEL MONTOBBIO ON THE OCCASSION OF THE LAUNCHING OF THE SPAIN UN MDG FUND CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Why and what for is Spain promoting the launching of this Spain UN MDG Found Program on Culture and Development in Albania? It responds to a conviction and a commitment. The conviction that culture needs development and development needs culture, as the UN Human Development Report 2004 has pointed out that to develop oneself is not only to survive but to live, and life is also that of the collective expression of identity. That the realisation of culture is an essential part of human development, and, meanwhile, a motor of economic development in our present world. That is why the Spanish Cooperation has a horizontal Strategy on Culture and Development. That is why the Spain UN MDG Found established culture and development as one of its thematic windows. The conviction, as well, that Albania’s transition is, among others, a cultural transition both internally and internationally, which needs an opportunity to step forward in the construction of its cultural institutions, human resources, assets and policies. The conviction that in an era when identity emerges as an structuring axes of the global agenda, Albania can present to the World a unique case of a secular society where people of different religious beliefs and convictions live harmoniously together. That whereas in other fields Albania’s transformation has to advance towards internationally established standards, in this field it represents the international standard, which can be put into value in the framework of the Alliance of Civilizations, to which Albania is firmly committed. The conviction that in this globalized world we are all and therefore we need a reinforced more unified and reformed UN System to make possible better global governance. And the first step towards UN reform is precisely the “one UN” Pilot Initiative which is being carried out in Albania with the convinced support of Spain through this and other projects. Convictions, which lead to commitments and engagements to produce “afters” which did not exist before. Commitment to create an Albania with better and new cultural institutions, such as a reformed National Historic Museum, flagship of Albania’s culture and History for Albanians and for the World as a result of a participatory process of definition of its form and content with the assistance of an advisory board with the best international figures for a museum with the best international standards. Or such as a new National Filmotheque, which can preserve for future generations and show to the public the unique Albanian Film Heritage. An Albania also with a recovered and better kept Archaeological and Historical Heritage through the rehabilitation of Apolonia and Antigonea archaeological sites, the conservation of Berat and Gjirokaster historical centres and the preservation of historical buildings and monuments throughout the country. An Albania with better legal framework and culture policies according to international conventions and standards. An Albania with better trained human resources in the culture field, such as cultural managers formed in the International master degree on cultural management created through the project; or with better capabilities for arts and craft productions. An Albania where cultural industries and cultural tourism make culture a motor of economic activity. An Albania where culture become a central element of its international action and image, with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs with better instruments to promote Albanian culture abroad and better trained cultural attaches; as well as a better strategy to promote its image abroad. An Albania, finally, with a National Council inclusive of all relevant actors and a National Strategy for the Alliance of Civilizations in the fields of education, media, youth and migration, showing to the World its unique coexistence of diversity in a secular society. In a famous speech, time ago Martin Luther King said “I have a dream”. We have something better: a project to make a dream come true.
