News & Events
Conferences
Cultural Heritage Across Borders
February 2007
Co-Sponsors
Canadian International Development Agency
The Norwegian Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
United Nations Development Programme
Background
The Black Sea region is rich in its cultural diversity and heritage, with each BSEC member state taking understandable pride in the historical legacy left by previous generations. But another, more recent legacy - that of conflict, the Cold War and political divisions – has left much of that rich heritage effectively stranded in often remote and under-developed border areas.
Increasingly, cultural heritage is not only seen as a national historical or sentimental asset, but as a potentially valuable economic asset that can be of particular importance to impoverished border regions.
Meeting called to order for BSEC-GHF Workshop, Istanbul, February 9-10th, 2007
Participants of the BSEC-GHF Workshop, Istanbul, February 9-10th, 2007
In the Barents Sea region, Norway and its neighbors, including Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the EU have pioneered a concept called “borderology,” or the “cross-border trafficking in culture” as an agent of economic change. The aim is to increase cultural contacts between border regions as a stepping stone to greater economic cooperation, not only in everyday business and commerce, but increasingly in “cooperative tourism.” Cross-border “Heritage Trails” or “Heritage Clusters” are becoming important (and economically lucrative) destinations for international travelers, and can act as a catalyst for broader economic development.
The Black Sea region has perhaps the greatest density and diversity of cultural heritage assets of any region in the world. Its border areas are particularly blessed in this regard, as they represent the key way markers in the ebb and flow of various civilizations and peoples over the centuries. The need is not only to preserve sympathetically this unique legacy in a coherent, coordinated way, but to do so in a way that will bring direct economic and social benefits to current and future generations.
Workshop Outcomes
The BSEC-GHF Cross-Borders Workshop brought together key leaders in cultural heritage, conservation and sustainable development with strong experience in cross-border initiatives, both from within the BSEC region and beyond.
A number of important outcomes were achieved on this first historic meeting bringing of noted cultural, tourism, academic and government officials, particularly those who have direct experience of managing complex cultural heritage assets. Professionals from other fields were also engaged with experience in economic development, business and infrastructure development and tourism.
One of the most important lessons was the power of the workshops’ multi-disciplinary approach which demonstrated the full spectrum of cultural, economic, social, and political dimensions and opportunities that arise from cross-border cultural heritage preservation and development.
Key Outcomes
1. Realization of the need for a well-developed promotion plan develop the Black Sea as a global destination for cultural tourism for both international and regional visitors. Few of the workshop participants had visited neighboring countries, and many were unaware of the rich heritage and possibilities in the region.
2. Sharing of case studies and presentations to educate and stimulate discussions for cross-border cooperation around cultural heritage, historical waterways, wine routes, living culture and festivals, ancient trading routes and other cross-border themes.
3. Raised awareness within the BSEC region of the economic potential for cultural heritage tourism, which is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global travel industry, itself one of the highest growth sectors internationally.
4. Identified key strategies that have proven most successful for developing economically viable and beneficial cross-border cultural heritage programs, and identified the main issues and problems.
5. Examined the roles of governments, inter-governmental organizations, multi-lateral institutions, the private sector and NGOs, and identified potential international sources of funding for use in economic-based, cross-border cultural heritage projects.
6. A number of viable trans-national cross-border cultural heritage programs in the BSEC region we identified including:
* Ancient Wine Routes
* Ancient Waterways
* Ancient Kingdoms
* Natural-Cultural Landscapes
Core Workshop Topics
1. Cultural Heritage Conservation & Preservation
* Natural and cultural heritage landscapes
* The Evolution of international cultural heritage Initiatives
* Cross border heritage & programs
* Richness of the Black Sea
* Cross-cultural exchanges in tangible and intangible heritage
2. Cultural Assets & Regional Economic Development
* Cultural & Natural Assets
* Cultural heritage development model
* Regional economic development & integration
* Infrastructure support
* Availability of financial resources
* The economic costs of closed borders
* Political dividends
3. Business Opportunities Involving Cultural Assets
* Regional Cultural & Eco-tourism
* Cross-border trade & commerce
* Private sector investment
* Financial barriers
* Micro & small business development – community engagement
Workshop Proceedings – Presentations and Papers
Mr. Jeff Morgan, Executive Director
Global Heritage Fund (GHF)
Supporting Global Heritage to Ignite Cultural and Economic Development
Ambassador Murat Sungar, 1st Deputy Secretary General
Black Sea Economic Council (BSEC)
Introduction to the Black Sea Economic Council (BSEC)
Mr. Tom de Waal, Author/Head of the Caucasus Program,
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Introduction to the Black Sea
Mr. John Hurd, President of ICOMOS Advisory Committee
Director of Archeological Conservation, GHF
A History of World Heritage Sites, a History of International Co-operation
Dr. Lazar Sumanov, President, ICOMOS
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Role of Experts and National and International NGO’s for Cultural Heritage Protection in Regional Cross-Border Cooperation
Mr. Mahmood Ayub, Resident Representative, Turkey
UNDP- UN Development Programme
Economic Development Aspects of Cultural Heritage Across Borders
Mr. Lawrence Hannah, Lead Economist
World Bank
Case Study: Mostar and Multilateral Funding
Dr. Costas Masmanidis, Secretary General
BSEC Business Council
The Business Dimension of Cultural Exchanges
Mr. Rune Rafaelsen, General Secretary
Norwegian Barents Secretariat
The Barents Cooperation : Region- Building - a Practical Model
Mrs. Berna Bayazit Baran, Program Associate
UNDP, Turkey
Case Study: Cultural Heritage as an Economic Value – Turkey/Çoruh
Mr. Noyan Soyak
Turkish Armenian Business Development Council
Developing a Scheme for Sustainable Projects on Turkish Caucasian Borderlands
Mrs. E. Korka, Director of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
Greek Ministry of Culture
Intercultural Encounters within the Framework of Cultural Routes Programs
Dr. Rasool Vatandoust, Director
Research Center for Conservation of Cultural Relics, Tehran, Iran
Central Asia: A Prospect For the Future
Ms. Nurçin Çelik, PhD Restoration
Gazi University, Ankara
Exploration of Concept of Cultural Environment Under Title of Cultural Heritage
Dr. Burcu Gültekin, Research Fellow, Center for European Studies,
Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
The Challenge of Tourism Potential on the Turkish-Armenian Border
Mr. Nikola Sobot, Executive Director
Euro-Balkans Foundation
Trans-Balkans perspective on Developing Euro-regions
Mrs. Madelena Grossman, Chief Administrator Creating Cultural Capital Project Council of Europe
Cultural Tourism and Vine Routes
Mr. Lorena Stoica
Carpathian Foundation, Romania
Living Heritage – A Model to Stimulate Community Development
Workshop Participants - February 9-10th, 2007
Name Organization Murat Sungar BSEC - Black Sea Economic Cooperation Garen Mirzoyan BSEC - Black Sea Economic Cooperation Costas Masmanidis BSEC - Business Council Maria Masmanidis BSEC - Black Sea Economic Cooperation Konstantinos Zaimis BSEC - Black Sea Economic Cooperation Predrag Gavrilovic BSEC - Black Sea Economic Cooperation Cosmina Moldova Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Lovita Ramgutte UNDP / BSEC Yurii Chyrkov Odessa Regional Chamber of Commerce Maria Maritana Alakiotou Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce Irina Papadache Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Romania Silvia Cebotari Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Moldova / European Integration Marina Naumova Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Russia Tamara Kapanadze Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Georgia Marija Sepi Markovic Serbia Chamber Of Commerce Milica Pavlovic Ministry of Culture - Serbia Aysenur Onat Ministry of Culture & Tourism - Turkey Oleksy Prylypko Ministry of Culture & Tourism - Ukraine Elchin Gafarli Ministry of Culture & Tourism - Azerbaijan Genan Bolat Ministry of Culture - Romania Diana Corjan Ministry of Culture - Romania Bela Kizbai Ministry of Culture - Romania Nikita Obraztsov Russian National Committee - BSEC Gokce Tuyluoglu Open Society Institute (OSI) Madalena Grossman Council of Europe - Director of Cultural Heritage Nune Chilingiryan Ministry of Culture - Armenia Gazim Halilaj Ministry of Tourism & Culture - Albania Elena Korka Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Greece Dimitris Konstantios Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Greece Eleni Adriani Paschou Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Greece Vasiliki Papakostopoulou Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Greece Jeff Morgan Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Stefaan Poortman Global Heritage Fund (GHF) John Hurd Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Mustafa Gonen Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Robert Corzine Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Cavit Erginsoy Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Lale Bastug Global Heritage Fund (GHF) Mahmood Ayub UNDP Berna Beyazit UNDP Josyana Capelier UNDP Amb. Cecilie Landwerk Norwegian Ambassador to Turkey Hasan Kanbolat ASAM Rune Rafaelsen BARENTS Luba Kuzovnikova Pikene Pa Broen Lorena Stoica Carinthian Foundation of Romania Nikola Sobot EuroBalkans Foundation Osman Kavala Anadolu Kultur Lawrence M. Hannah World Bank- Lead Economist Rasool Vatandooste Member of ICCROM Dr. Lazar Sumarov Head of Icomos Macadenoia/Unesco Ihsan karayazi Kars Municipality Salih Sen Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Turkey Noyan Soyak TABC Burcu Gultekin METU - Middle East Technical University Tom de Waal Institute of War & Peace Eisin Kuleli Ministry of Culture & Tourism - Turkey Teresa Reeves European Community Delegation - Turkey
BSEC – Black Sea Economic Council
Mr. Predrag Gavrilovic
Executive Manager
pgavrilovic@bsec-organization.org
Mr. Konstantinos Zaimis
Project Coordinator
kzaimis-bsec@turk.net
BSEC Permis
Musir Fuad Pasa Yalisi
Eski Tersane
34460 Istinye
Istanbul Turkey
Tel: +90.212.229.63.30
Fax: +90.212.229.63.36
www.bsec-organization.org
Global Heritage Fund (GHF)
Stefaan Poortman
International Development Manager
spoortman@globalheritagefund.org
Global Heritage Fund
625 Emerson St, Suite 200
Palo Alto, California 94301
Tel: +1.650.325.7520
Fax: +1.650.325.7511
www.globalheritagefund.org
