Greece participated for the first time in the Summit of the G7 Ministers of Culture held in Italy after an invitation from the host country.
The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said “Greece’s invitation and its participation in the G7 Summit of Culture Ministers is a privilege for our country”.
Greece participated along with the G7 countries- the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Canada, France, and Germany. Brazil and India were also invited, as former and current Presidencies, to the G20.
Greece to G7 culture summit as “a sister country to Italy”
In his opening statement, at the special session on: “The role of Culture in the sustainable development of Africa and the world”, the Minister of Culture of Italy, Alessandro Giuli, noted:
“Greece was invited and participates today in the Summit, because we consider it as the great sister country, from which our Civilization began and with which we created a common cultural heritage of millennia. Italy and Greece are Europe’s natural bridge to Africa.”
As Lina Mendoni pointed out, “culture can act as a driving force for sustainable development. The interaction between culture, economic development and environmental protection is crucial. Culture is much more than a social expression. It is a fundamental human right and a driver for social cohesion and stability. When harnessed properly, it becomes a catalyst for sustainable development from which we can all benefit.”
Africa has, in abundance, cultural wealth and diversity
Referring to Africa and the vast cultural wealth of the continent, the Minister of Culture noted that “Africa has, in abundance, cultural wealth and diversity, two elements which have not yet been developed and highlighted, to the maximum extent possible.
Africa is home to a vibrant cultural and creative economy, offering huge opportunities for economic growth, jobs, and professional development to its people, especially the younger generation. We must ensure that the cultural economy is not only developed but also done in perfect harmony with Africa’s own broader goals and needs for sustainable development.
“The path to this is linked to resilience, especially in the face of environmental and climate change, which is a major threat, worldwide, to material, but also to intangible cultural heritage.”
Regarding the Cultural and Creative Industry, Mendoni pointed out that “by investing in the creative sectors, we can not only strengthen Africa’s economic prospects, but also create jobs, which will allow the younger generations to build a future in their homeland, which will be based on their rich heritage.
“In this context, cultural heritage sites and indigenous knowledge systems are not only valuable, but also vulnerable. We already have experience how the effects of the climate crisis can disrupt the social fabric and threaten entire populations and their heritage.”
Collective action on culture
Regarding how constructive cooperation can be built with African governments and cultural institutions, the Minister emphasized: “The key to building our cooperation with African governments and the cultural institutions of the continent is the necessary resilience and stability, with respect primarily to their own needs and priorities.
“The African Union, UNESCO, and other international organizations have a leading role in this area. However, much more needs to be done to protect and secure cultural assets from environmental degradation as well as human interventions. Sustainable development requires respect and integrated and coherent strategies for the management of cultural resources.
“The Naples Declaration, which we all co-signed, reaffirms the need for collective action to protect cultural goods from illegal trafficking, to protect tangible and intangible heritage.”
The G7 Culture Ministers Summit in Naples was attended by the African Union Commissioner for Health, Social Cohesion and Social Development, representatives of UNESCO, ICCROM and the European Union.
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