• Submitted by: admin
• Arts and Culture
• Politics and Government
• 07 / 28 / 2007

The 10th Ibero-American Conference of Culture Ministers seeks to broaden the democratic access to culture and recognize the value of diversity, Chilean minister Paulina Urrutia said in her closing speech on Saturday.

She also highlighted the importance of the approval of a Plan of Action of the Ibero-American Cultural Charter to contribute to build more just, supportive societies in the region.

Urrutia presided over the closing session and signing of the Declaration of Valparaiso, involving all 22 country members of the Organization of Ibero-American States(OEI), a preparatory meeting for the 17th Summit to be held in Chile in November.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the Ibero-American Summit Executive Secretary, Javier Luis Egana, and OEI Executive Secretary, Spanish Alvaro Marchesi.

The decision to conduct a survey leading to a program to promote policies regarding culture and social cohesion, as well as making intercultural dialogue a priority in Ibero-American cooperation were among agreements reached at the ministerial meeting.

Country members also agreed to allocate at least one percent of their State budget to promote culture.

The Declaration of Valparaiso was inked by Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Source: Prensa Latina