Dear Participants of the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalisation,

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you to Oslo for a meeting of the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalisation. Some of you have travelled long distances to come here. We appreciate your participation.

Let me also thank Canada – our co-host - for their invaluable support and engagement. My sincere thanks also go to the Liaison Bureau that has worked very hard to prepare this meeting.

Now, 40 days into my new office as Minister of Culture, I am very glad to meet with you and learn about the International Network on Cultural Policy. The objectives of the INCP - to make culture central to the international agenda and to promote and protect cultural diversity – are, in my opinion, most topical.

Globalisation is certainly the most important factor of change facing the world today. The balance between acceptance of globalisation and the legitimate quest for identity is one of the greatest cultural challenges of our time.

At a time when culture is becoming a driving economic force, the development of truly competitive cultural industries in all countries is, as I see it, imperative.

Faced with the development of a global culture, each country’s language and culture tomorrow will be what we have been able to make them. Only appropriate cultural policies can guarantee the preservation of creative diversity against cultural standardisation. This is a major objective of the cultural policy of Norway. In a global context the Norwegian culture is a minority culture. For small countries such as Norway, the main strategy is to ensure that the possibility to pursue cultural objectives such as promotion of freedom of expression, cultural diversity and identity, is maintained.

Our contemporary societies include a diversity of cultural expressions, values, beliefs, religions and ways of living.

I see this diversity as an enrichment to Norway. It makes us more aware of our own cultural identity. At the same time it represents new challenges. It is argued that the nation-state is played out. The players are no longer just nations, but supranational companies, regions and networks. However, one may turn the way of presenting the problem around and argue that the changes in society are leading to an increased significance of the government’s role in promoting culture. The nations are not out of play; they are playing new roles.

Cultural diversity is on the agenda of many international organisations. It is increasingly important to seek common responses to common challenges. It is also important to join forces to avoid duplication of work. I understand that this is an important principle for the INCP.

To me, the INCP seems a most interesting and useful body. I believe it is important to keep the INCP as an informal, focussed and flexible forum for discussion and dialogue.

It is useful for Ministers to be able to meet for informal discussions and exchange of views. Such an informal body will benefit Ministers both in their domestic endeavours as well as internationally. The mandate of your Working Group was renewed by the Ministers who met in Lucerne two months ago. Your mission is to dive deeper into the many and complex issues of an international instrument to protect and promote cultural diversity.

The outcome of your discussions in the Working Group will be reflected in the agenda of the meeting of ministers in South-Africa next year.

In conclusion, I wish you good luck and hope your meeting will be both fruitful and constructive. May your stay in Oslo also be enjoyable.

Thank you.