Minister of Cultural Affairs, Anne Enger Lahnstein

Opening statement. The fourth Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea states

Gdansk – The fourth Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Baltic Sea states, 20. September 1999

Mr. Chairman

First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the Polish government for the invitation to come here to Gdansk for this fourth ministerial conference for ministers of culture in the Baltic Sea region. It is an experience in itself to come to Gdansk, this old, beautiful city where science and culture for centuries have had such a high position. I am also looking forward to this conference which will give us all an excellent opportunity to exchange views on cultural policy in general and discuss questions related to mutual activities in the region.

Norwegian regional co-operation is mainly concentrated on three different areas:

• The Nordic region, that is the five Nordic countries
• The Barents region, which is the Nordic countries and Russia, together with eight observer countries

and

• The Baltic region, the countries present here today.

In addition we have close connections with the countries surrounding The North Sea.

From the Norwegian side we strongly support cultural co-operation in the Baltic Sea area. In our opinion culture is one of the main roads to mutual understanding and co-operation. We have, therefore, from the very beginning taken part in the work of Ars Baltica.

Governmental co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region covers an increasing range of sectors that are important for stable economic and political development. They include e.g. economic co-operation, environment, democracy building and civil security as well as culture. The regional non-governmental structures are multiplying. All together this is a sign of a living region. This is what binds the Baltic Sea states together.

The Baltic Sea region is also becoming increasingly important, politically and economically. It is, therefore, time to take stock of what is going on and ask: Is the present structure the optimal one for handling this co-operation? Are the working methods as efficient as they could be?

The Council of the Baltic Sea States, in which Norway for the time being is holding the presidency, is a driving force in the Baltic Sea region. The main tasks and priorities of the Council have been determined at ministerial meetings and summits and through previous actions. However, there is still a great potential in stimulating further development of co-operation.

On the multilateral level Ars Baltica is today the organizing body for cultural co-operation in the Baltic Sea region. At previous conferences for ministers responsible for cultural affairs it has been agreed that cultural co-operation in the region should be based on Ars Baltica.

In order to give Ars Baltica a stronger political reference which could also provide a more efficient structure for future work, a closer link to the Council of the Baltic Sea States could be a path to pursue. This would give continuous attention to cultural co-operation in general and open for closer co-operation with other sectors.

I would, therefore, propose that this ministerial conference on cultural co-operation in the Baltic Sea region recommend to the Council of the Baltic Sea States that Ars Baltica in the future be included in the regional co-operation which takes place under the auspices of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. This recommendation should be included in the final declaration of our conference.

A written outline of my proposal is to be found in a non-paper which was handed out to all delegations before the conference.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, let me again thank you for this opportunity to visit this wonderful city, for your hospitality and for the excellent setting you have provided for our discussions. I am convinced we shall have a fruitful exchange of views that will bring the cultural co-operation in the region a great step forward.

Thank you.