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Director-General addresses the Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
On 10 June, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, addressed the Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Convention, and this coincides with the 70th anniversary of UNESCO.
鈥淐ultural goods and services represent millions of jobs, and drive economic growth -- they also represent a wellspring of identity and collective strength,鈥 said the Director-General recalling that 鈥渢his combination is the winning recipe to craft more balanced and sustainable development, and this is why UNESCO Member States are working so hard to integrate culture in the new global sustainable development agenda to follow 2015.鈥
The Director-General gave an overview of the achievements accomplished in building momentum for the promotion of cultural diversity over the past 10 years and how there is concrete evidence that culture drives sustainable development
鈥淭oo few people are yet fully aware of the power of culture for social cohesion and the dynamism of societies,鈥 declared Irina Bokova. 鈥淚t is a question of ethics, values and the type of development we want,鈥 continued the Director-General highlighting that together we must inform about this soft power of culture in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
鈥淭he UNESCO 2005 Convention is our best ally to do so,鈥 said the Director-General.
