AG/RES. 1434 (XXVI-O/96)

INTER-AMERICAN CULTURAL PROGRAM

(Resolution adopted at the eighth plenary session, held on June 7, 1996)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN:

Article 2 of the Charter of the Organization, which establishes the promotion, by cooperative action, of the economic, social, and cultural development of the member states as one of the essential purposes of the Organization; and

Resolution AG/RES. 1 (XX-E/94), "General Policy Framework and Priorities: Partnership for Development," which sets forth the preservation, enhancement, and awareness of cultural and linguistic identity as a priority of the Organization and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI); and

CONSIDERING:

That, at the Summit of the Americas, held in Miami in 1994, the heads of state and government noted that culture is a fundamental and integral component of development in the Hemisphere and pledged to encourage more dynamic relations among public and private institutions and individuals;

That the heads of state and government also requested the OAS to reinforce its plans and programs to facilitate cultural exchanges and the flow of cultural and historical information within and among our nations; and

That the ministers of culture and cultural policymakers in the Hemisphere, at their VIII Forum, held from March 25 to 27, 1996, in Managua, underscored the need to preserve the cultural diversity of humanity as an invaluable legacy of world history,

RESOLVES:

1. To reaffirm the importance of culture for the integral development of the member states and the need for the Organization of American States to strengthen and enrich the Inter-American Cultural Program.

2. To instruct the General Secretariat to design a work plan for approval by the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CEPCIDI) that promotes cooperation programs and projects which would support the efforts by member states and complement the activities of regional and international organizations in the preservation, enhancement, and awareness of cultural and linguistic identity of the Hemisphere, the promotion of the arts, and the preservation of historical and archeological sites.

3. To instruct CEPCIDI to conduct, through its appropriate bodies, the seminars, consultations, and other activities that it deems necessary for the development of cooperation programs and projects within the framework described above.

4. To instruct the General Secretariat to submit quarterly reports to CEPCIDI and annual reports to the General Assembly on implementation of the work plan.