Slovenia takes an active part in international organisations (UNESCO, Council of Europe, and the EU) and is also closely involved in multilateral and regional associations and initiatives, such as the Central European Initiative, the Quadrilateral (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary), the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, the Central European Cultural Platform, the Alps-Adriatic Working Group, etc. Slovenia joined both the Anna Lindh Foundation and ASEF (Asian Europe Foundation). Slovenia hopes for better representation of its culture and cultural heritage in different international programmes and projects. The expected accession to the OECD represents an opportunity to improve cultural statistics in Slovenia.
The Institute for Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia (ZVKD) participates by preparing dossiers for nominations to the list of UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage (in 2011 the Prehistoric Crannogs around the Alps have been included on the UNESCO list as a transnational nomination of Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia).
ZVKD also participates by preparation of arguments for the ceremony of the Mark of European Heritage of the EU and by activities of the heritage network HEREIN of the European Council and international non-profit organisation HEREIN AISBL founded mostly for support to heritage management, dissemination of information on policies of heritage maintenance and international cooperation.
The Republic of Slovenia is a partner in the Forum for Slavic Cultures. The goal of the Forum is to promote the development of cultural cooperation among all countries whose populations speak Slavic languages. The Forum can contribute to better understanding of the cultures of participating countries, through the exchange of information and knowledge and the direct dissemination of both these issues to the public, especially in the domains of language, literature, culture and art, education and communications. One of the most important plans is the publication of 100 Slavic novels. The Forum for Slavic Cultures could also facilitate the implementation of bilateral cultural agreements and programmes concluded between the participating countries.
The Ministry of Culture is responsible for implementing and monitoring the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The importance of discussions carried out at UNESCO, with a view to adopting an international convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, was also stressed within ASEM / ASEF dialogue and especially at the conference “New Models, New Paradigms – Culture in EU External Relations” organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the events surrounding the Slovene presidency of the EU Council.
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