In its allocution during the plenary session, Italian Minister Franceschini underlined Italy’s engagement and its key results in the field of safeguarding cultural heritage, namely through the creation of the first dedicated national task force (Italy’s “Culture Blue Helmets”), which are already operational in several crises areas in the world.
Furthermore, Minister Franceschini wished to stress how safeguarding heritage means protecting humanity, its values, identity, history and beauty, which is why the international community must carry forward unanimously and with conviction on this path. This is also the meaning of the Italian Appeal entitled “Safeguarding culture and promoting cultural pluralism : the key to lasting peace”, which will be adopted by the General Conference in a few days.
Minister Franceschini closed his speech with a note of satisfaction for Italy’s election to the Presidency of the Culture Commission of UNESCO’s General Conference.
