ARCHBISHOP MARTINO SPEAKS ON CULTURE, DEVELOPMENT AT U.N.

VATICAN CITY, OCT 21, 2002 (VIS) - On October 17, Archbishop Renato Martino, head of the Holy See Observer Delegation to the United Nations to the 57th session of the General Assembly, spoke before the Second Committee during the debate on Item 88c on Culture and Development.

The archbishop, who is also the president-elect of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, highlighted the Report by the director general of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, noting that it is part of the ongoing discussions on Item 88c. He said the Report "outlines the principles concerning the impact of culture on the relevance, success and sustainability of development policies. ... These principles must be based upon the recognition of the human dignity, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for cultural differences and uniqueness."

"This echoes the statement," Archbishop Martino affirmed, "made by the Holy See during the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development: 'The fact that the earth and all its resources are part of the 'common heritage of all humanity' creates the understanding which fosters interdependence, stresses responsibility and underlines the importance of the principle of global solidarity. This reality becomes the foundation of sustainable development by directing the moral imperatives of justice, international cooperation, peace, security, and the desire to enhance the spiritual and material well-being of present and future generations'."

He asserted that committee discussions "must focus on finding the means to allow culture to complement development as development must complement culture."

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