European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations

Program "KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPE"

PROGRAMME OF EUROPEAN MOBILITY

THEME OF THE PROJECT: ANCIENT CONVENTS (2nd version)

Taking into account that, according to its statutes, one of the goals of the FEACU –European Federation of Associations – is to “discover, understand and build new spaces of cooperation within the programme of European mobility: Knowledge of Europe so as “to help, to apply, to develop and to promote not only all the possible and desirable programmes in conformity with the ideals and the aims of UNESCO” but also “to promote thematic and intergenerational exchanges, workshops and meetings  at a European level”.

Being aware that, according to the IX article, section 2, al. the European Mobility Programme organizes itself in the shape of projects under  a definite theme, having a transnational partnership dimension, built on the basis of propositions from clubs which, in Europe, lead actions around that same theme.

We propose to organise a four year long project around the theme “Ancient Convents”.

The objectives to be attained are the following;

1. To promote the constitution of teams in each of the 9 Clubs or  Co-organising Centres to study each yearly sub theme, in a  local and national perspective, with a view to prepare the communications and interventions to be  presented in the yearly seminars;

2. To permit the deepening of knowledge of the whole theme and sub themes in each participating organisation;

3. To organise every year a seminar on one of the sub themes of the responsibility of four countries /Clubs or Centres, with the participation of members of the teams mentioned in A), and opened to other interested parts in enrolment conditions to be defined, which will consider the experience and knowledge of the sub theme and the possible number of admissions.

4. To give to the participants and to the Clubs/Centres, the possibility to know and to take conscience, simultaneously and by means of  compared studies, of the diversity of local and national situations and of the similarities between behaviours and even of the consequences above all the “how” an the “why” in Europe, finding out our common heritage;

5. To create friendship ties and habits of transnational cooperation in Europe among participants in the project and in the seminars through the discovery of partners for other actions and by coming to the conclusion that the diversity of conclusions will enrich our European common heritage.

YEARLY SUB THEMES:

n      Economic Function of Ancient Convents (Agriculture, Farming Techniques, Population Settling);

n      Social and Sociological Function of the Ancient Convents ( Education, Health, Statu Quo 

Maintenance, Institution of Power);

n      Symbolic Function of the Ancient Convents ( Location, Architectural Structure, Relations with the other Powers, Internal Organisation, The Salute),

n      Donating and Retributive Function in their relation with their donors by making and producing cakes (biscuits) and spirituous liquors.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Eight or nine co-organisers according to the scheme in A), four of which are responsible for the yearly seminars,  four  from  Western European Catholic countries, two or three from Orthodox countries, one from Armenia and another from a Protestant country;

Besides the organisers the seminars will be also open to members of other Clubs /Centres and from other countries.

Basic idea: Portugal, Catalonia, France, Italy. Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia and Germany.

Annex II

Why Programmes of European Mobility in general? And one of the Ancient Convents in particular?

Why a European net of Clubs and Unesco Centres of National Heritage?

A)    Why Programmes of European Mobility in General?

The idea of these programmes was born during the second meeting of the Work Group  for the creation of the European Federation of Associations, Centres and Unesco Clubs and of European nets by area of activity,  held at Sinaia, Rumania, on the 5^th and 6^th of March, 1999.Actually, all the members of the Work Group have never looked upon the European Federation as a second-FMACU, as it  presents itself up till now  in a smaller geographic frame because one can’t see any justifying reasons for such  procedure.

The question which came into our minds was: which can be the contribution of the Clubs and European Unesco Centres for the reinforcement of the defence of Peace in Europe not only in each country but also at a region level?

So as to find an efficient answer we have become aware that an overwhelming majority of Europeans, including the members of Unesco Clubs and Centres, have very little knowledge of their own history and even less about the history of the other European countries.

There’s no doubt that each one’s identity, a big share of our personal difference, comes from that very past which has shaped the people, nation and state to which one belongs as well as the dreamt future which has been shared by this same people, nation and state.

What happens with me, with you and the others that surround us is that more than being conscious of one’s identity, of one’s difference is the fact that one lives that day after day.

How can one create links of permanent solidarity among European people and nations, inside the Unesco Clubs and Centres, based on the acknowledgement  of their differences, their common heritage and breaking all the mutual “clichés” and putting an end to all the prejudices of ones against the others, through interaction and sociability?

In the Work Group for the creation of European Federation of the Associations, and Unesco Clubs and Centres the participants came from seven different regions and we kept in contact for several years not only personally  but also by mail and by the internet, having very often been surprised at each other’s different attitudes and reactions . It was the strong friendship among us and the sincerity and the wish to understand one another that enabled us to accomplish the mission we had undertaken.

In Europe, even in the small circle of the Unesco Clubs and Centres, we have worked at least with: Germany, Armenia, Belgium, Byelorussia, Bulgaria, Catalonia, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Moldavia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukrainian.

It was necessary to involve the organisation in projects which, being connected with an area of Unesco activities, put in contact the Unesco Clubs and Centres for some years, on a basis of studying and personal meetings, around a theme which reveals a common heritage or reality and the differences among the several people, nations, participant States and the reason for all that.

This is consecrated in the VIII Article of the Statutes of the FEACU—European Federation of the Unesco Associations, Centres and Clubs.

B)     Why the Programme of the Ancient Convents in particular?

1.      The fundamental axis of the work carried out by Unesco Club of Porto, Portugal, to contribute to raise the defences of Peace in men’s minds for longer than ten years has been the one of the heritage. As a result of this we have decided to choose a theme which comprehends all Europe—The Ancient Convents!

In fact, the convents appeared in Europe, in Greece, in the 7^th century and in the 8^th century in the West. In their diversity they are concerned with several realities: Armenia’s, the Orthodoxy’s and the Catholicism’s worlds. Besides, being a manifestation of the search of the holiness, they evolved throughout the ages influencing the temporal societies and concomitantly being influenced by them. 

As the Unesco Clubs and Centres are not organisations of any kind of religion or faith and they don’t exist to create any divisions, we have assumed that we shouldn’t interfere in any religious controversies, but we should rather look upon the Ancient Convents as a way through which the participants could simultaneously release a common heritage which brings us together and where we recognise ourselves, the differences of existing situations and the solutions found in the participant countries, in a kind of discovery which will contribute to make us  full-sized European citizens.

2.      How to achieve our goals?   

Since our idea was to organise a four-year project, we have chosen four of the roles/functions played by these convents, meaning to study one each year.

Which features of the Ancient Convents have we favoured so as to accomplish our goal?

First of all, the symbolic function concerning the choice of their location, their architectural structure and internal organisation and their relations with the other powers.

Then the social and sociological function concerning the education, health, their contribution to the maintenance and change of the status quo, and the fact that they were controlled by the dominating social environment.

Next, the economic function, in the agriculture, the land management and settlement of people.

Finally the donating and retributive function in their relation with their donors through the making and production of cakes and spirituous liquors.

3.      So as to enable the project to reveal a big diversity of national situations by means of a similar reality—the one of the Ancient Convents --- we needed to choose our partners  through the knowledge of the extension of the European movement of the Unesco Clubs and Centres and also through the diversity of the contributions of the countries and the existing churches.

We knew that it had been in Armenia that, for the first time, the Christian religious architecture diverged from the basilical style, borrowed from the Roman palatine architecture, and opened the way to the first Romanesque style constructions with the square, the modules of the Latin cross and the arch of the relics, first in Catalonia and soon afterwards all over the western Europe.

In the Orthodox zone, there is the case of Rumania where the convents are to be built around the church, on the surrounding walls or even inside them, quite different from Greece where the Pi scheme is very common.

         In the Catholicism zone we still find striking differences between the periods before and after  

         Cluny  as well as between Cluny and Cistercian Orders, let alone between the Franciscan and  

         Dominican Orders.

         This explains the reasons why we have chosen as our partners in this project Armenia,

        Catalonia, France, Italy, Rumania and another country with Orthodox majority.

         If that could be possible, we would also like to add a country with a Protestant majority,

        because, for one thing, one can’t ignore that Martin Luther was a monk and for another thing

        one doesn’t know the  mutations that the Reformation might have caused in the already

        existing convents or if those convents have simply disappeared.

4.      We are quite sure that this project is an enormous challenge for the members of the Unesco Clubs and Centres, because they should organise themselves so as to work in small teams and to try to get some external support for their project. Each of one of the co-organisers is supposed to present some communications in yearly seminars about the sub theme of each year. These seminars are to be organised by four of the co-organisers in a starting-point meeting. But if the challenge is big, no doubt that the results and the acquired experience will be big as well.

5.      Porto Club Unesco presented this project to the Executive Council of the European Federation of the Unesco Associations, Centres and Clubs sitting in Nafpaktos, Greece, in November 2002, who unanimously, approved it, having nominated the vice-president  for the subjects concerning the Cultural and Natural Heritage, Mr. Sílvio de Matos, as responsible for the project accoding to the Section2, VIII article of the  FEACU Statutes.

C)    Why a European net of Unesco Clubs and Centres of Common Heritage?

1.  A project of this kind brings along lots of difficulties which go from the search for partners up

     to financing problems above all what concerns the organisation of yearly seminars which are a

important points for getting together, discussing, debating, interacting and synthesis.

First of all, how can one know who is doing some work on Heritage in each country or autonomous federation? How can one discover who should one get into contact with?

How can one have access to the financing of projects by Unesco, European Union, Council of Europe or other institutions, avoiding the blockades caused by the fixed short terms for the candidatures, since the European Unesco Clubs and Centres don’t have yet their projects ready or the partners of several countries yet guaranteed?

The only solution is to start by building up a European net!

2. If one believes in the reasons for our commitment in the Unesco Clubs and Centres, one must be aware that both the civic education and the education for an international cooperation, namely in Europe, can’t be confined to the local or national dimensions nor to the European regional dimension, because at the moment they are closely linked.

But if one wants to become capable of overcoming these challenges, one must acknowledge that the experience of each Unesco Club or Centre is very small and limited and in its majority non-existent.

The definition of all these needs, the launching of formation and debate towards the finding of solutions, taking advantage of the knowledge and experience of the people involved, is only possible inside the frame of the European Conferences of the Unesco Clubs and Centres which are leading some work on the Cultural /Natural Heritage to be organised every two years or in seminars and round-tables in cooperation with Unesco and other organisations of Unesco galaxy as the Centre of the World Heritage, ICOMOS, and others .

Thus one can reinforce the cooperation between the Unesco Clubs and Centres of this field of activity –Cultural and Natural Heritage – by organising geminations and visits among members of Unesco Clubs and Centres from different countries, not only at the level of co-ordinators but alsoat bottom level; by organising simultaneous local and national workshops with the same concern about the defence of the Biodiversity and the Universal Public Patrimony, reported by the press and broadcast by the media.

But, above all, we should create in ourselves new work habits which must be anchored to a permanent effort of reflection and experimentation of our activities, sharing our practice, our points of view about the reasons for having done this or that, the goals we propose to attain, our difficulties in order to broaden  the horizons of each of us.

Finally we can’t forget the cultural enrichment of our members, contributing for creating habits of international  work, reinforcing the field of the Peace in Europe, because the manifestation of any aggressive behaviours like those which show up in wars and civil conflicts needs, as a preliminary condition, a psychosocial frame and hence we should hamper its birth and development by means of our earnest actions.

3.  The embryo of this European net of the Unesco Clubs and Centres which devote themselves to the area of the Heritage already exists since September 2002, as the result of the cooperation between Unesco Club of Porto (Portugal), the Club d’Amics  of Unesco of Girona (Catalonia) and the Unesco Club of Modena (Italy)   and it is looking forward to your enrolment.

Sílvio António de Matos

President of Unesco Club of Porto

Vice-President of The European Federation of the Unesco Associationss, Centres and Clubs, responsible for the activities concerning the Cultural and Natural Heritage.

About the European Meeting of young people -  Strasbourg 2004 (Greek Federation' s opinion)

"A vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision is just a waste of time. However, if we combine these two, we can change the world ". That was the main conclusion of the meeting that was organised by the French Federation of Clubs, Associations and Centres of UNESCO, in Strasbourg, at the European Youth Centre, under the aegis of the European Federation of Clubs, Associations and Centres of UNESCO a few days ago, under the agenda "Democratic Education of young people in Europe".

 In the internation meeting participated delegations of Clubs, as well as of Non-Governmental Organisations, from the countries: Romania, Moldavia, Italy, France, Cyprus, Greece, Sweden, Portugal, Spain-Catalonia, Russia, Bulgaria and Poland.

 Greece was represented by a delegation of Club UNESCO of the Department of Piraeus, headed by the Chairman of the Club, Mr. Ioannis Maronitis, the Vice-president, Mrs. Athina Boutsi, and General Secretary, Mrs. Douyia.

 During the meeting were heard proposals by the representatives of the Clubs UNESCO and of Non-Governmental Organisations, which had as a main subject DEMOCRACY in Europe and the education of young people in Democratic Programs. Furthermore, the spokesmen referred to the Cultural Diversity, the particular importance of culture and tradition, but also to the role that UNESCO and its Clubs play. Especially important were the suggestions of the younger members of the delegations on democracy and its applications in their countries.

 In his proposal, the Chairman of Club UNESCO of Piraeus, Mr. Ioannis Maronitis referred to the Olympic Truce, a particularly important institution. In the end, he invited the participants to sign the declaration of the Olympic Truce, a suggestion that was welcomed by all the delegates with enthusiasm.

 It is well worth mentioning that, during the meeting, a specific action plan was decided upon for 2005 - European Year of Citizen – concerning education; what more, the delegates accepted a proposal for the definition of a special week aiming at a better informing of citizens through Congresses and Events on the subject.

 Finally, the delegations had the opportunity to visit the City Hall of Strasbourg, where they exchanged points of view with the Mayor, and to be guided around at the European Parliament.

 The conclusions of the meeting are summarised unanimously in the following text:

"Having shared the experiences and our feelings on how to build a better and more efficient democratic Europe, we, the young people of the Clubs UNESCO from Bulgaria, Catalonia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Moldavia, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Switzerland, met in Strasbourg, France, from the 26th to the 31st of July, 2004,aiming to declare the following:

 Through our discussions, we recognize that our common values are the respect for human rights, the promotion of tolerance as a respect for the differences, solidarity, conscience and self-criticism, responsibility, active involvement, exchange of knowledge, dialogue and the juxtaposition of ideas, knowledge of history, universality and the encouragement of diversity and of creation.

 Though we have as a goal to achieve a better democracy, that will protect and develop these common values, we recognize political, social, educational, economical, cultural and moral obstacles. As included in these sectors, we point out the fear for changes, the social gap and the generation gap, the discriminations, the economic manipulation, the negative role and the monopoly of the Mass media, the civilization that promotes competition and prejudice. The lack of interest and participation by the citizens is considered equally negative for us. We declare education, as a means for the Clubs UNESCO to overcome all these obstacles.

 Knowing which are the values that we share as Europeans, we realise the obstacles, which deter the growth of democracy and of a Civilization of Peace. As young people from the Clubs UNESCO, we decide the following:

• We use new technologies, in order to create a network among the members of Clubs UNESCO of Europe, so that we can exchange programs and experiences and that we spread the movement of Clubs UNESCO.

 • Having a closer relation with schools and local communities, we promote our values to all young people, giving them the possibility to express themselves inside a democratic system

• We give the stimulus for the development of specific programs, concerning the knowledge of history, the cultural interchange and the education for life, aiming at a democratic environment that would concern the family, as much as the education

The world dimension of Clubs UNESCO should not overlook anything that is happening around us, because globalisation has no borders."

###

Collaboration Protocol between

The Italian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations and

The Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations

The recent official visit of Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, General Director of UNESCO, in Romania (September, 18-21), was an excellent opportunity to present him the activity of the European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations and also the activity of the Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations. A documentary exhibition about both federations was presented in the generous frame of the International Fair of Visual Arts, which was held in Bucharest. The Fair, organized under the EFUCA’s aegis, was opened in the presence of the General Director, as in the presence of the General Secretary of the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, the Romanian Culture Minister, the Romanian Ambassador to UNESCO, the EFUCA Honorary President, Vice-president and Executive Secretary, the Board of the Romanian Federation and a large audience.

On this occasion, the General Director underlined trough his speech the importance of the activity of the UNESCO clubs in order to establish a dialogue with the civil society and he also mentioned the clubs’ role in assuring a better visibility for UNESCO. Indeed, this allocution may be considered as a very clear intervention in favor of the clubs and for the role they could play. Without doubt, it will remain as a reference moment in the history of the UNESCO clubs’ movement and their relations to UNESCO, especially in those days when the movement faces a difficult situation at its international level.

The Romanian Federation and the UNESCO Club Societa, the organizer of the Fair, sent several invitations to these events. EFUCA’s Honorary President, who’s also the President of the Italian Federation, Mrs. Marialuisa Stringa, had the kindness to respond to the invitation and to come to Bucharest for the Opening Ceremony and a workshop with the Romanian Federation and some of its clubs (September, 17 - 22).

So, the EFUCA’s documentary exhibition has been presented by one of the two honorary presidents of the European Federation and by its Executive Secretary, Daniela Popescu. Paula Iacob, President of the Romanian Federation and Vice-president of the European Federation, has presented a welcome allocution to the General Director and presented also the documentary exhibition of the Romanian Federation. Magdalena Stefanescu Darvari, President of the UNESCO Club Societa, spoke about the honor of an UNESCO club being the host of so many important authorities, especially UNESCO’s General Director.

On the 20^th of September, Marialuisa Stringa, Paula Iacob, Daniela Popescu and Mihaela Varga were invited to participate to the decoration ceremony of the UNESCO’s General Director by the President of Romania. On this occasion, the General Director and the President have presented their points of view about UNESCO’s role in the contemporary world. The representatives of the UNESCO Clubs movement had the opportunity to present to the President of Romania the role of the clubs in promoting UNESCO’s principles and the relations between the Italian and Romanian Federations.

On the 21^st of September, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura had a press conference attended also by Daniela Popescu, EFUCA’s Executive Secretary. Again, the UNESCO’s General Director has underlined the importance of the UNESCO clubs and his desideratum that every UNESCO manifestation be organized in collaboration with UNESCO clubs or federations.

During her visit in Romania, Marialuisa Stringa had a dialogue with Alexander Mironov, General Secretary of the Romanian National Commission of UNESCO, in the presence of Paula Iacob, Daniela Popescu and Mihaela Varga. Mr. Mironov presented the new initiatives of the Romanian Commission, especially those concerning the dialogue between science and spirituality ant the UNESCO radio network. This first proposal was already inserted in a resolution project sent to the Italian Commission, which delegated Marialuisa Stringa to discuss about this interesting initiative. She has also presented the steps she already took with the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister and the Romanian Academy of Rome in order to include in the cultural exchanges’ protocol, the collaboration between the two federations. During her visit in Romania, Marialuisa Stringa had the opportunity to meet the responsible of the Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister for the cultural exchanges.

During the second day of the visit of the Italian Federation’s President, the themes discussed with Mr. Mironov were developed trough discussions with some interested organizations, including the Romanian Institute for Human Rights, whose director, Irina Zlotescu Moroianu, has already organized several yearly seminars on science-spirituality dialogue. The possibility to enlarge the participation by opening this science-spirituality dialogue to experts from the two countries, on theoretical and practical levels, was taken into consideration. Young people should also be stimulated to organize their own debates on the subject in order to get the consciousness of the present evolution of this issue of great importance in the formation of every human personality.

A lot of relations were found between this initiative and the Romanian Commission’s program to educate young people for the science, just as with the Italian Federation’s program, already developed for many years, entitled “Reading for peace”. Indeed, reading magazines that popularize science and its achievements may inform young people and ensure them the fundamental human right of knowing one’s environment and the laws that govern life, including religious explanations of life.

The representatives of the two federations considered another initiative of the Romanian National Commission: to create and develop a network of radio stations associated to UNESCO. This network could be an excellent opportunity for the UNESCO clubs to gain a better visibility, but also the clubs can provide a lot of information on the topics related to the UNESCO specific themes.

The initiative of the Italian Federation “Libraries associated to UNESCO” will be also considered by the Romanian side, which has already established the first UNESCO associated library in one of the Romanian villages (Corbu, Slatina district) and which desires to follow the same methodology in nominating UNESCO associated libraries, in order to strengthen the efficiency of our activities and to create an action unity of a program under EFUCA’s aegis.

Marialuisa Stringa proposed to the Romanian side to enlarge the Italian Federation program « Reading for Peace » with Romanian participation, proposal that she presented also to the young people of Alumnus UNESCO Club.

Marialuisa Stringa met also the co-presidents of the “Medicine and Music” UNESCO Club, a club which created long time ago a philharmonic orchestra formed by physicians. This orchestra will concert on the 16^th of October at the Romanian Academy of Rome and in the Basilica San Marco (Vatican), the members of Italian UNESCO clubs being invited to the concerts. Marialuisa Stringa expressed her determination to help this club to be known in Italy, searching with the co-presidents the ways in this respect.

The concert at the Romanian Academy of Rome entitled “Una vita per la musica. Serata festiva in onore del baritono Nicolae Herlea” will demonstrate the collaboration between two European Federations, two Romanian clubs (Medicine and Music UNESCO Club and Romania - UNESCO Club) and a Romanian governmental institution. Marialuisa Stringa and Paula Iacob (who initiated this manifestation several months ago) will be present at this event under EFUCA’s aegis.

Marialuisa Stringa had several meetings with the members of the Romania – UNESCO Club. On the 17^th of September, she took part in the Exhibition Hall of the Parliament Palace to the opening ceremony of a painter, member of the club, Olga Morarescu Marginean. It was an opportunity to meet several members of this club formed by personalities of the Romanian cultural and scientific life. The same day, the founder president of the club, Dr. Silvia Samuila offered a dinner. On the 19^th of September, Marialuisa Stringa with Silvia Samuila, the architect Alba Popa and Mihaela Varga visited the Mogosoaia Palace (XVII c), monument influenced by the Venice architecture and a testimony of the old artistic techniques. Marialuisa Stringa presented the Italian Federation program called “Revival of the Traditional Artisan Handcrafts” and underlined that Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, in Istanbul, has again insisted about the importance of the immaterial patrimony. The architect Alba Popa was presented as a promoter of the old techniques in Romania, especially the giltwood technique.

The representatives of the Romanian Federation, Paula Iacob, president, Daniela Popescu and Mihaela Varga, vice-presidents, have underlined that the Romanian clubs are very interested by the program initiated by UNESCO and followed by the Italian Federation, “Sites and Monuments, Messengers of Peace”. In this context they proposed that the exhibition organized by the Italian Federation should be itinerated in Romania to offer a better opportunity to the Romanian clubs to follow the program in the same way.

Marialuisa Stringa had the opportunity to discuss these programs and other issues also with several presidents and other representatives of the Romanian clubs.

In the frame of the European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (EFUCA), IFUCA and RFUCCA wish to develop collaboration relations between their federations and, directly, between the clubs, following EFUCA’s programs. Through their common activities, the two federations wish also to open the way of multiple bilateral collaborations within EFUCA.

The two federations want to enlarge these bilateral relations with all the interested members, activities that can even be strengthened through other adhesions to projects already approved by the decisions taken by the EFUCA’s Executive Board on the subject (Melilla, March 2002).

Protocole de collaboration

entre

la Fédération Italienne des Associations, Clubs et Centres UNESCO (FIACU) et

la Fédération Roumaine des Associations, Clubs et Centres UNESCO (FRACCU)

La récente visite officielle en Roumanie du directeur général de l’UNESCO, M. Koichiro Matsuura (18 –21 septembre), a permis de lui présenter l’activité de Fédération Européenne des Associations, Clubs et Centres UNESCO et de la Fédération roumaine dans une exposition documentaire présentée dans le cadre généreux de la Foire International des Arts Visuelles. La foire, manifestation sous l’égide FEACU, a été ouverte dans la présence du directeur général et celles de secrétaire général de la Commission Nationale de Roumanie pour l’UNESCO, du ministre de la Culture de Roumanie, de l’Ambassadeur délégué de Roumanie à l’UNESCO, de la présidente d’honneur de la Fédération européenne des Associations, Clubs et Centres UENSCO et de la secrétaire exécutive, la présidente et les vice-présidentes de la Fédération Roumanie et du grand public.

À cette occasion, le directeur générale, dans son allocution, a souligné l’importance de l’activité des clubs UNESCO pour établir le dialogue avec la société civile et a mentionné le rôle des clubs dans l’agrandissement de la visibilité de l’UNESCO sur le territoire. En effet cette allocution du directeur général peut être considérée comme une intervention très claire en faveur des clubs et du rôle qu’ils puissent jouer un jour et elle serait sans doute restée comme un moment de référence dans l’histoire du mouvement des clubs UNESCO et de leur rapport avec l’UNESCO, notamment dans la situation pas facile au quelle le mouvement doit faire face aujourd’hui au niveau international.

La Fédération Roumaine et le Club UNESCO Societa, organisateur de la Foire, ont lancé plusieurs invitations de participer aux cestes événements et la présidente d’honneurs de la Fédération Européenne, présidente de la Fédération Italienne, Marialuisa Stringa, a eu l’amabilité de répondre à l’invitation et de venir à Bucarest pour le vernissage de la foire et pour une visite de travail avec la Fédération Roumaine et quelques clubs (17 – 22 septembre).

Ainsi, l’exposition documentaire de FEACU a pu être présenté par un des deux présidents d’honneur de FEACU et par sa secrétaire exécutive, Daniela Popescu. Paula Iacob, présidente de la Fédération roumaine, vice-présidente de la Fédération européenne, a présenté une allocution de bien venue au directeur général de l’UNESCO et a présenté l’exposition documentaire de la Fédération roumaine. Magdalena Stefanescu Darvari, présidente du Club UNESCO Societa, a aussi parlé sur l’honneur d’avoir tant des hautes autorités, notamment le directeur général de l’UNESCO à une manifestation organisé par un club UNESCO.

Le 20 septembre, Marialuisa Stringa, Paula Iacob, Daniela Popescu, et Mihaela Varga ont été invité à la cérémonie de décoration du directeur général de l’UNESCO par le président de la Roumanie. A cette occasion, le directeur général et le président ont présenté leurs points de vue sur le rôle de l’UNESCO dans le monde contemporaine. Les représentantes du mouvement des clubs UNESCO ont eu l’occasion de présenter au Président de la Roumanie le rôle des clubs dans la promotion des principes UNESCO et les liens entre les clubs italiens et roumains.

Le 21 septembre, M. Koichiro Matsuura a eu une conférence de presse à laquelle a participé Daniela Popescu, secrétaire exécutive de la Fédération européenne. De nouveau, le directeur général a souligné l’importance des clubs UNESCO et son desideratum que chaque action UNESCO soit en collaboration avec les clubs ou les fédérations UNESCO.

Pendant sa visite en Roumanie, Marialuisa Stringa a eu un dialogue avec M. Alexandru Mironov, secrétaire général de la Commission Nationale de Roumanie pour l’UNESCO dans la présence de Paula Iacob, Daniela Popescu et Mihaela Varga. M. Mironov a présenté les nouvelles initiatives de la Commission roumaine, concernant notamment le dialogue entre la science et la spiritualité et le réseau des postes de radio UNESCO. Cette proposition a été déjà insérée dans un projet de résolution envoyée à la Commission Nationale pour l’UNESCO de l’Italie qui a délégué Marialuisa Stringa à suivre l’intéressante initiative. Elle a aussi exposé ses démarches auprès le Ministère italien des Affaires Etrangères et l’Académie Roumaine de Rome pour inclure dans le protocole des échanges culturels les collaborations entre les deux fédérations. Durant sa visite en Roumanie, Marialuisa Stringa a eu l’occasion de rencontre le responsable du Ministère roumain des Affaires Etrangères sur les échanges culturelles.

Pendant le deuxième jour de la visite de la présidente de la Fédération italienne on a eu la possibilité d’approfondire les thèmes discutés avec M. Mironov avec les organisations intéressées, y compris l’Institut Roumain des Droits des Hommes, par l’amabilité de sa directrice, Irina Zlotescu Moroianu, qui a déjà organisé plusieurs séminaires annuels sur le dialogue science-spiritualité. On a considéré la possibilité que ce cadre peut être élargi, en ouvrant ce dialogue science – spiritualité avec la participation des experts des deux pays sur le plan théorétique et sur le plan de l’action, en entraînant les jeunes à participer par des débats propres sur le sujet pour qu’ils puissent prendre conscience de l’état actuel de cette problématique d’une importance fondamentale dans la formation de toute personnalité humaine.

On a trouvé les liaisons multiples entre cette initiative et le programme de l’éducation à la science des jeunes de la Commission Nationale Roumaine, ainsi que le programme de longue date déjà développé par la Fédération Italienne « Lecture pour bâtir la paix ». En effet, la lecture des journaux destinés à propager la science et ses réalisations informent les jeunes et leur assurent ce droit fondamental de l’homme, de connaître son ambiance et les lois qui gouvernent la vie, même avec celles qu’ils imitent.

Une autre initiative de la Commission Nationale Roumaine a été considérée par les représentants des deux fédérations : la création d’un réseau des postes radio associées à l’UNESCO. Ce réseau sera une excellente opportunité des clubs UNESCO de gagner de visibilité, mais aussi les clubs peuvent fournir beaucoup des matériaux informatifs pour des émissions au sujets consacrées aux thèmes spécifiques à l’UNESCO.

L’initiative de la Fédération italienne – « Les bibliothèques associées à l’UNESCO » - aura été aussi pris en considération par la partie roumaine qui a déjà établi une première bibliothèque associée à l’UNESCO dans un des villages de Roumanie (Corbu, département de Slatina) et qui désire suivre la même méthodologie dans la nomination des bibliothèques associées à l’UNESCO pour renforcer l’efficacité de nos actions et pour créer une unité d’action dans le cadre d’un programme sous l’égide de la FEACU.

Marialuisa Stringa a proposé à la partie roumaine d’élargir le programme de la Fédération italienne « Lire pour bâtir la paix » avec la participation roumaine, sujet qu’elle a présenté aussi aux jeunes du Alumnus Club UNESCO.

Une autre rencontre de Marialuisa Stringa a été celle avec le Club UNESCO « La médicine et la musique », club qui a crée depuis longs temps un orchestre philharmonique formé des médecins. Cet orchestre va concerter le 6 octobre, à l’Académie Roumaine de Rome et dans à la Basilique San Marco (Vatican), les membres des clubs italiens étant invités aux concerts. Marialuisa Stringa a exprimé sa volonté d’aider ce club à se faire connaître en Italie, en cherchant avec les deux co-présidents les modalités d’action.

Le concert de l’Académie roumaine de Rome, intitulé “Una vita per la musica. Serata festiva in onore del baritono Nicolae Herlea”, sera une preuve de la collaboration de nos fédérations, des deux clubs roumains (Club UNESCO “Médicine et Musique” et Club Roumanie - UNESCO) et d’une institution gouvernementale roumaine. Marialuisa Stringa et Paula Iacob (qui a initié cette manifestation quelques mois auparavant) seront présentes à cet événement sous l’égide de FEACU.

Avec les membres du Club Roumanie – UNESCO, Marialuisa Stringa a eu plusieurs rencontres. Le 17 septembre elle a participé dans la Salle d’Exposition du Palais du Parlement roumain au vernissage d’un peintre, membre du club, Olga Morarescu Marginean, où elle a pu connaître plusieurs membres de ce club formé des personnalités de la vie culturelle et scientifique roumaine. Le même jour, la présidente fondatrice du club, Dr Silvia Samuila, a offert un dîner. Le 19 septembre, Marialuisa Stringa avec Silvia Samuila, l’architecte Alba Popa et Mihaela Varga ont visité le Palais du Mogosoaia (XVII s), monument influencé par l’architecture vénitienne et témoin des anciennes techniques artistiques. Marialuisa Stringa a présenté le programme de la Fédération italienne de « Valoriser les métiers artisanaux traditionnels» et a souligné que M. Koichiro Matsuura, à l’Instanbul, a de nouveau insisté sur l’importance de salve garder le patrimoine immatériel. L’architecte Alba Popa a été présenté comme étant elle-même une promotrice des anciennes techniques en Roumanie, notamment de la technique du bois doré.

Les représentantes de la Fédération roumaine, Paula Iacob, présidente, Daniela Popescu et Mihaela Varga, vice-présidentes, ont montré que les clubs roumaines sont très intéressés par le programme initié par l’UNESCO et suivi par la Fédération Italienne, « Sites et monuments, messagers de la paix ». En ce contexte, elles ont proposé que l’exposition organisée par la Fédération italienne à Florence, soit itinérée en Roumanie, pour que les clubs roumains puissent mieux s’accorder a l’initiative italienne. Marialuisa Stringa a eu l’occasion de discuter cestes programmes et d’autres problèmes aussi avec plusieurs présidents et d’autres représentants des clubs UNESCO de Roumanie.

Dans le cadre de la Fédération européenne des Associations, Clubs et Centres UNESCO (FEACU), FIACU et FRACCU se proposent à développer des relations de collaboration entre leurs fédérations et directement, entre leurs clubs, en suivant les programmes de FEACU. Par leurs actions communes, les deux fédérations désirent ouvrir la voie des multiples collaborations bilatérales dans le cadre de la Fédération européenne.

Les deux fédérations veulent élargir cestes relations bilatérales avec touts les membres intéressés, actions qui peuvent être encore renforcer à travers d’autres adhésions aux projets déjà approuvés par les décisions prises par le Conseil Exécutif de FEACU concernant ses programmes (Melilla, mars 2002).

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