| 100th
Session of the Executive Council
|
|
Monday
3 December 2001 & Tuesday (morning) 4 December 2001
Paris (France)
Minutes
INTRODUCTION
Jacques
Perot, President of ICOM, opened the session and thanked
the members of the Executive Council and partners of ICOM
for their presence.
0.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The
draft agenda for the 100th session was adopted with the
addition of an item on the creation of a working group on
the use of languages within ICOM, and time slots for additional
presentations of other issues.
1.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 98TH AND 99TH SESSIONS OF
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The
minutes of the 98th session were adopted with the following
corrections:
Item 2.1. the spelling of Phnom Penh;
Item 12 § 1. the spellings of Washington D.C., and the Vilnius
Forum Declaration.
The minutes of the 99th working session were adopted.
2.
REVIEW OF THE MINUTES OF THE 61st AND 62nd SESSIONS OF THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The
minutes of the 61st and 62nd Sessions of the Advisory Committee
were tabled for review. The Chairperson of the Advisory
Committee called attention to the comments that had previously
been made regarding the presentation of the budget and financial
report, and asked that these be taken into account during
the June meetings.
3.
ORAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE TRIENNIAL PROGRAMME
Manus
Brinkman presented the Report of Activities of the Secretariat.
He thanked the Secretariat staff for their work in what
had been a difficult time for them, as ICOM had had to give
up two offices and reorganise the available space.
During
this period, a General Conference questionnaire for the
evaluation of Barcelona 2001 and the preparation of Seoul
2004 had been developed and sent out, the Triennial Report
published, and the ICOM leaflet updated and reprinted.
A dossier has been compiled on museums and globalisation,
and a new edition of the Code of Ethics and Statutes
is being prepared.
Work is progressing on ICOM's Web site, with the addition,
notably, of lists of national museum associations and professional
associations, the revised Code of Ethics, and a membership
form for International Organisations.
A special issue of ICOM News (No. 3, 2001) was published
on the results of the General Conference, and a new layout
and thematic presentation for the newsletter is being prepared.
The Leicester University bookshop is a new distributor for
ICOM publications.
In
the area of the fight against illicit traffic, four press
conferences were held for 100 Missing Objects. Looting
in Europe, in the countries involved by the publication:
Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic and France.
Preparations were under way for the Workshop on the Illicit
Traffic of Cultural Heritage in Latin America, to be held
in Bogota, Colombia from 23 to 26 April 2002. One of the
outcomes of this workshop will be the publication of a Red
List of Endangered Latin-American Heritage. Also, due to
the success of the Red List of African Archaeological Objects,
this publication was reprinted in 1000 copies.
Two objects appearing in the first volume of 100 Missing
Objects devoted to the Angkor site will be returned
to Cambodia.
ICOM is participating in the new Leiden Network for the
promotion of UNESCO's 1970 Convention and UNIDROIT.
In
the context of ICOM's Framework Agreement with UNESCO, a
Workshop on the Use of Internet Technologies was held in
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, in August 2001. It was a
very practical and useful workshop which should be followed
up with an on-site discussion list with the Museums Association
of the Caribbean. ICOM would like to carry on this activity
with other regions of the world, notably the Pacific Islands
and Asia.
Three
workshops, under contract with UNESCO, were organised at
the Nubia Museum to complement the training of the Museum's
senior staff and to build their capacity to assume the role
of local trainers. These workshops focused on Museology
Training for Trainers, Museum Management and Collections
Management, and were attended also by directors from other
Egyptian museums. ICOM is also developing the documentation
centre of the Nubia Museum and advising on the purchase
of equipment for the Museum to enable it to assume its role
of Regional Training Centre.
Concerning
the Blue Shield Committee, a working relationship with ICCROM
has been established, and Christiane Logie had recently
become the ICBS Secretary.
In
order to revive ICOM's Regional Organisation for the Arab
States, a meeting is being organised with representatives
of the Arab States for the 1st of February 2002.
In
follow up to the Workshop on the Protection of Cultural
Property in South East Asia, held in Hanoi in April 2001,
the Proceedings and a compilation of Legislation on the
Protection of Cultural Heritage in South-East Asia Countries
have been produced.
Phase
II of the Museum Education Project of Africa (MEPOA) was
completed under the umbrella of AFRICOM. It consisted in
the implementation of a pilot project aimed at bringing
communities closer to the museums and raising community
awareness of the importance of their heritage. The activity
was carried out in Burkina Faso, with the concrete results
of an itinerant exhibition on pottery and the production
of a kit on mounting an exhibition.
In
close cooperation with ICOM-CC, the Secretariat is also
preparing the "Museum Forum: Community Involvement in Conservation",
a meeting to occur within ICOM-CCs 13th Triennial Meeting,
to be held in Rio de Janeiro in September 2002.
Other
projects were prepared and presented to funding agencies.
These include a long-term Museums Emergency Programme for
the Prevention and Response in Emergency Situations, in
which the Getty Conservation Institute and ICCROM will be
involved as partners.
The
President of ICOM thanked Manus Brinkman for his extensive
report, as well as all the members of the Secretariat, and
he congratulated them on their work.
4.
TREASURER'S REPORT
4.1.
Financial Statement as at 30 September 2001
The
Treasurer particularly warned that the present financial
statement is not yet finalised because the figures for the
programme projects are still pending. These may change the
balance considerably.
In
presenting the financial statement, Camila González Gou,
Treasurer of ICOM, announced that the financial statement
at 30.09.2001 with estimation at 31.12.2001 shows a difference
of minus FF 555 338 regarding general and project expenditure,
and another difference of minus FF 154 133 for extra budgetary
expenditures related to the CDD contract for the Documentation
Centre and the MuseDoma project. Therefore, the loss amounts
to a total of minus FF 709 471.
However,
this amount is in fact lower because it incorporates a surplus
of FF 281 767 from the 2000 balance sheet, carried over
to the 2001 budget. The 2001 budget reflected this amount
by entering it as expenditure exceeding income. The extra
budgetary expenses amounting of FF 154,133, foreseen and
accepted by the Executive Council, should be covered by
the reserves. At this time of the year - the end of November
2001 - there appears to be a deficit of FF 273 571. As said
above, this may change as the definite figures for the programme
projects are not yet finalised.
The
accumulated profit on investment shares and other sources
are not included in the balance for reasons of prudence.
In
view of the results of this report, recovering unpaid fees
from former years would be a useful exercise as it would
bring in additional resources. This income would be limited
but sufficient to cover small, unforeseen expenses.
Projects
are almost self-financing and the difference between the
proposed budget and the final report depends on how the
money is used for this kind of work. If it is less than
the amount allocated in the budget, it must be returned.
The difficulty with projects is that they do not cover all
salary expenses. The Treasurer stressed the fact that greater
efforts should be made to find good reasons to persuade
project partners to pay for all the expenses. ICOM should,
of course, offer something in exchange or at least convince
its partners that what is offered to them is valuable enough.
The
second point raised by Camila González Gou concerns publications.
Publications only earn a small income because of French
legislation concerning associations. However, they should
be taken into consideration because they serve as a good
marketing tool, they reflect the image of ICOM as a professional
organisation, and they provide one of the best services
ICOM offers to its members. The Information Centre is also
a useful tool, and it is as important as publications for
the same reasons mentioned above.
In
the same spirit, organisations and institutions should be
encouraged to provide some financial assistance, along similar
lines as the Réunion des Musées Nationaux, the Direction
des Musées de France or the AAM/ICOM National Committee
(USA). But in this case too, ICOM must come up with a creative
solution as to what it can give in return.
4.2.
Draft Budget for 2002
Camila
González Gou said this was the first budget to be drawn
up in Euros, and it will probably be to the advantage of
National Committees using this currency. Money will be saved
as there will be no bank charges for changing currency.
She
pointed out that the income is higher because of membership
fees and projects. Members are undoubtedly aware of the
fact that all the figures, especially those for the projects,
are provisional even though they are based on past experience,
since most of the contracts are not yet received at the
end of 2001.
Salaries
and benefits will be higher as usual this year and they
could even exceed the present budget.
There
is a small gap between income and expenditure amounting
to 15 957 Euros. It would be preferable not to have this
discrepancy at the end of the financial period.
One
very important point is the location of the ICOM headquarters.
There is always a sum of money in the budgets under this
item, even though it does not correspond to reality. It
would nevertheless be useful to discuss whether it would
be convenient to move ICOM to another site or not, or perhaps
some of its services, such as the Projects Department, and
if so, where to move and how much it would cost. She indicated
that Manus Brinkman had already studied this possibility.
5.
INTERVENTIONS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
OF ICOM
5.1.
UNESCO Report
Lyndel
Prott expressed her pleasure at being present at ICOM's
100th Executive Council meeting. She presented the regrets
of Mounir Bouchenaki, Assistant Director-General for Culture,
who was detained by other commitments, and stated that as
Director of the Division of Cultural Heritage of UNESCO,
she places great weight on UNESCO's cooperation with all
the non-governmental cultural organisations with which it
works. She emphasised the importance of this cooperation,
stating that it may take new forms as a result of the reform
procedure underway at UNESCO whose clearly marked priorities
of the next biennium are normative instruments, the protection
of intangible cultural heritage, the promotion of cultural
diversity and pluralism.
She
stated that, over the years, UNESCO has much appreciated
the strong action taken by ICOM and ICOMOS, together with
INTERPOL in the fight against illicit traffic, and she mentioned
the establishment of a fund for the return of cultural property
to assist those States which are hindered by the costs involved
in pursuing returns.
The
extensive term work over a decade to publicise the UNESCO
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the
Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural
Property 1970 has borne fruit. The United Kingdom has announced
its impending ratification, and Belgium has started the
ratification process, while Switzerland is well-advanced
in its law-making process. Fourteen other States are reconsidering
or working towards ratification. Equally important are the
gradually swelling ranks of the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen
or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects 1995. There are now
13 States Parties, certain others which have signed but
not yet ratified, and a number of others which are moving
towards ratification or accession.
UNESCO's
work continues also to familiarise States with the important
provisions of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention.
However, although there are 167 States party to the World
Heritage Convention, there are only 101 States party to
the Hague Convention, a key instrument in the preservation
of the heritage. UNESCO is counting on ICOM's support through
its local committees to encourage more States to participate
in these instruments.
The
UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural
Heritage 2001 was just adopted by UNESCO's General Conference.
It applies to underwater sites the strict rules developed
for archaeological sites on land, and a further very important
implication is the development of site museums which provide
cultural, economic and social benefits for local populations.
Work
in the field of intangible heritage will proceed in two
programmes: one to ensure the recognition and care of the
intangible heritage through measures such as the Living
Human Cultural Treasures Programme and the Proclamation
of Masterpieces of the Intangible Heritage; the other by
seeking to ensure international legal standards for its
protection. UNESCO would appreciate the input of the professional
NGOs in these efforts.
The
adoption of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity is an important marker for future development.
Lyndel
Prott praised the adoption by ICANN (The Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers) of dot.museum as highly
significant, and she said that the Culture Sector of UNESCO
is ready to work with ICOM in this field.
As
concerns Museum International, the contract with
Blackwell publisher has been renewed. The review will be
published in English and French, in a new format and approach,
and all attempts will be made to continue with the Arab
and Spanish versions.
On
the subject of Afghanistan, the difficulties involved with
the production of a volume of 100 Missing Objects devoted
to the situation in the country were discussed, and Lyndel
Prott stated that ICOM should be the holding organisation
for information and inventories provided by the institutions.
Jacques
Perot thanked Lyndel Prott and stressed the convergence
and the strong on-going collaboration between ICOM and UNESCO.
5.2.
ICCROM Report
Nicholas
Stanley Price, Director of ICCROM, confirmed ICCROM's intent
on strengthening relations with ICOM. He appreciated Manus
Brinkman's presence at the last General Assembly of ICCROM
where its 100 member states had approved the 2002-2003 programme.
He indicated ICCROM's long-term strategic directions:
-
integrating movable and immovable cultural heritage, in
close collaboration with ICOM;
-
preventive conservation; · safeguarding of archives;
-
strengthening communities in the conservation field with
scientists, researchers, conservators to promote common
language and sharing of ideas;
-
disaster and risk preparedness -- working closely with
the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO, notably in publishing
guidelines;
-
the promotion of advocacy and cultural diversity.
ICCROM
will have a consultative status with the Blue Shield and
will take part in the meetings and play a more active role.
As regards Afghanistan, ICCROM is keen to participate with
ICOM and UNECO in enforcing normative instruments.
In the field of training, Nicholas Stanley Price stated
ICCROM's intention to work more closely with ICOM International
Committee for Training in the future.
Jacques
Perot thanked the Director of ICCROM, and gave his assurances
that ICOM and ICCROM would continue to work closely together.
5.3.
ICOMOS Report
Gaia
Jungeblodt, Representative of ICOMOS, and speaking on behalf
of the President of ICOMOS, Michael Petzet, stressed three
areas of collaboration with ICOM, the strongest of which
is the Blue Shield Committee. She stated that the activities
and workshops organised under the umbrella of the Blue Shield
were instrumental in the creation of new National Blue Shield
Committees.
She
presented ICOMOS' Heritage@Risk Report, first published
in 2000. Its aim is to identify threatened heritage places,
monuments and sites, present typical case studies and trends,
and share suggestions for solving individual or global threats
to our cultural heritage. She invited everyone to consult
the country reports and case studies on the ICOMOS Web site.
This ICOMOS H@R! first world report complements other national
and international initiatives to preserve cultural heritage
places, monuments and sites. Links are provided to these
other programs or web sites.
The
13th ICOMOS General Assembly and Scientific Symposium will
take place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 14 to 18 October
2002, with the theme: "Place-Memory-Meaning: Preserving
Intangible Values in Monuments and Sites".
Other
activities include:
- a
bibliographic database that will be available on the Internet
at the end of the year;
-
a National Committee audit, in accordance with criteria
established on ICOMOS National Committees;
-
the introduction of student membership; · the production
of an ethical commitment statement;
-
the regeneration of International Monuments and Sites
Day, on April 18th -- for although it had existed since
1982, it was no longer celebrated in Europe because of
the European Heritage Days.
Jacques
Perot thanked Gaia Jungeblodt, and indicated ICOM's willingness
to participate in their next Heritage@Risk publication.
Yani Herreman mentioned that ICOM is also collaborating
with ICOMOS on the preparation of the Universal Cultural
Tourism Charter.
Pascal Makambila, encouraged greater collaboration between
the National Committees of ICOMOS and those of ICOM.
5.4.
WFFM Report
Annick
Bourlet, representative of the World Federation of Friends
of Museums (WFFM), thanked Jacques Perot for inviting
the WFFM to present its activities at this 100th Session
of ICOM's Executive Council. She said this had been a very
special year for the WFFM, as it had been invited for the
first time to participate in ICOM's General Conference.
The Round Table that the WFFM had organised there had been
very successful. They had the opportunity to discuss common
concerns such as the Code of Ethics, fundraising
and the participation of society in museum management. Regional
meetings of the WFFM were organised in Asia, Europe, North
and South America.
The
WFFM web site www.museumsfriends.org is now operational,
and will not only enhance communication within the organisation,
but will also promote its mission amongst "outsiders".
Carol
Serventy, Vice-President for Asia-Pacific, has developed
a small guidebook on "How to Start a Friends Group, and
the Special Committees have continued to work on topics
such as the Code of Ethics, its improvement and promotion,
and the development of the organisation.
Annick
Bourlet invited everyone to participate in the 11th World
Congress of the WFFM, which will take place from 7 to 11
October, 2002, in Buenos Aires, on the theme "Why Friends
of Museums?"
The
Congress will focus on three main topics:
- the
social role of Friends seen as non-governmental organisations
capable of assuming independent and non-partisan positions
and of functioning as "think tank" with a "conscience".
-
Friends as a link between museums and their publics and
as a source of education and learning.
-
Friends in the context of museums as factors of change.
Finally,
in reference to the September 11th event that shook the
world, Annick Bourlet stated that it is our duty to promote
a spirit of understanding and tolerance as our best defence,
and that in our hands lies the responsibility to shorten
the gap of misunderstanding amongst different cultures and
to promote a collective humane consciousness.
Jacques
Perot thanked Annick Bourlet for this message, and expressed
ICOM's wish for further and closer collaboration with the
WFFM.
Martin Schaerer indicated that as the theme of International
Museum Day 2003 was "Museums and Friends", this would be
a good opportunity for closer collaboration. with the WFFM.
5.5.
ICOM Foundation
The
ICOM President read the report of the President of the Foundation
who could not attend the meeting. The report summarized
the Foundation's financial contributions for the year, to
wit : FF 41060 directly to ICOM headquarters from its patron
members, FF 13511,87 representing royalties from its jewelry
project done in collaboration with the Réunion des Musées
nationaux (France), $ 9000 to ICOM 2001 (Barcelona) for
scholarship grants, and $ 3335,17 to the Ministry of Culture
and Fine Arts of Cambodia for the benefit of the Phnom Penh
Museum.
Further,
the report gave a brief history of the growth of the Foundation's
membership and the sales from its jewelry project over the
past three years (1998-2000). The Foundation President also
reported on the development of its joint venture with the
English company Museums and Galleries Marketing Ltd. that
aims to produce fine gifts representing museum objects and
that will be sold for the benefit of ICOM and participating
museums.
The
ICOM President thanked the friends of the Foundation for
their financial assistance to the Organization. However
he iterated the notion that there should be a close collaboration
with the Foundation Board and the Finance and Resources
Standing Committee of ICOM when the latter body has been
set up.
6.
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ".MUSEUM" DOMAIN
NAME
Cary
Karp informed the members of the Executive Council that
the contract with ICANN was signed. ICANN sees in ".museum"
the ability to demonstrate the possibility of creating a
cultural sector. With ".museum" ICOM is the pioneer of the
cultural domain on the Internet.
Cary
Karp stated that there are two specific issues that the
Executive Council needs to discuss, since ICOM has to clearly
articulate its interest on this process:
1) the recruitment of a registrar: MuseDoma has to recruit
a registrar at the latest in 4 months.
2) a sensitive issue is the issue of the definition of a
museum: especially with regard to virtual museums. According
to Manus Brinkman MuseDoma must prioritise on registering
museums first and take care of individuals later on. Jacques
Perot agreed on this point.
Isabelle
Vinson, UNESCO, underlined the importance of this initiative
for the cultural sector and that this experience might help
define cultural policies.
ICOM
will be registered as secretariat.icom.museum; National
Committees as nationalcommittee.icom.museum etc.
Jacques
Perot thanked Cary Karp for its report and for the work
he accomplishes for MuseDoma.
7.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN 2001-2007
7.1.
Task Force on National Committees and Regional Organisations
Gary
Edson and Yani Herreman submitted a list of 15 names. Two
names were mispelled and have to be modified: these are
Hadwig Kraeutler and Aidan Walsh. The ICOM Secretariat has
been informed that Dr. Hironao Sakamoto (Japan) passed away
in August 2001. Thus, his name has been deleted from the
list (see Appendix
2). The list finally presents only 14 names.
Giovanni
Pinna made a request about the criteria of selection of
these names. Gary Edson explained that the Advisory Committee
proposed a list of names. Gary Edson and Yani Herreman tried
to reflect the regional and gender representation and they
have carefully considered the list. Yani Herreman intervened
to say that most of the persons on the list have shown that
they were and are committed to ICOM.
7.2.
Task Force on International Committees and Affiliated Organisations
Martin
Schaerer indicated that Claudia Balk from SIBMAS replaces
Andreas Dreyer (see list in Appendix
2). He informed the Executive Council that
a report will be presented in June 2002.
The
terms of reference and the lists with members of International
Committee the Task Forces and the National Committee Task
Force are available for consultation on the ICOM Website.
Elisabet
Olofsson asked about the frequency of the reports of these
groups.
According to Jacques Perot, the presentation of intermediary
reports in June seems to be a good proposal for the calendar.
Martin Schaerer added that the discussions among the members
will be posted on ICOM-L, thus the members of the Executive
Council will be informed.
Giovanni Pinna expressed his concern about it and wishes
to be informed of the debates among these groups.
7.3.
Nominations Committee
Jacques
Perot explained that the name and function of this Committee
has aroused a certain number of fears and questions. It
was the Reform Task Force that had recommended the creation
of this Committee be adopted for an experimental period
in Barcelona in 2001. This Committee will be an experiment.
Its function will be to provide information for the community
of members in order to encourage as many nominations as
possible responding to the "government" of ICOM. It will
play an incentive and informative role in the widest sense
of the terms. The Executive Council will continue its consultations
on the composition of this Committee.
Giovanni
Pinna expressed the hope that the mandate of this Committee
will be clearly defined in order to avoid "oligarchies"
emerging within ICOM.
Jacques
Perot assured Giovanni Pinna that a document defining the
mandate would be distributed to members of the Executive
Council and that it could be approved within a short period.
Alissandra
Cummins said the Advisory Committee must search for candidates
and is therefore obliged to call for nominations before
the month of June 2002.
Martin
Schaerer stressed that it was important to give some thought
to the functions and not just to the individuals. It was
necessary to define the terms of reference and the necessary
criteria to be able to submit a candidature.
7.3.
Finance and Resources Committee and Legal Affairs and Properties
Committee
Bernice
Murphy explained that these two Committees were new instruments
for ICOM. They would function in parallel with the Ethics
Committee. The finances of ICOM have become too complicated
over the years. New sources of financing can change the
image of ICOM. A number of International Committees obtain
significant funds from variety of different sources. At
present, many financial resources and partnership operations
do not appear in the financial reports. There is good reason
to believe that role of the ICOM Foundation will change
in the years to come. This is why the creation of a Finance
and Resources Committee is vital. This Committee could examine
the financial health of ICOM, search for suitable means
to increase the resources of the organisation, and indicate
the directions it should take in the future.
As
for the Legal Affairs and Properties Committee, it would
study the legal problems now faced by museums, an example
being the question of copyright. A member of the Executive
Council should be a member of this Committee.
These
two Committees would serve as instruments not only for the
Executive Council but also for the entire profession. Bernice
Murphy felt it would not be difficult to find lawyers willing
to participate in the work of ICOM. These Committees could
contribute a lot of value, assistance and advice to ICOM.
Giovanni Pinna said that in his view the Legal Affairs Committee
should be a permanent one. He also remarked that it would
not be easy to find people who would accept to collaborate
free of charge in this particular field. He felt it might
be preferable to envisage hiring consultants whenever necessary.
In
the opinion of Jacques Perot, members of ICOM should become
involved in these Committees. The membership of these Committees
would not be composed exclusively of legal or financial
experts.
Gary
Edson noted that there were legal experts who were working
in the field of museums and in collaboration with museum
professionals.
In
the view of Pascal Makambila, the Legal Affairs Committee
should include both legal and museum experts.
Bernice
Murphy pointed out that the purpose of this proposal was
to serve the interests of the museum community, and that
it was anchored in the world of museums.
Jacques
Perot felt that expertise was required to set up this kind
of Committee. The Council had already received proposed
names for the Finance and Resources Committee but not for
the Legal Affairs and Properties Committee.
Bernice
Murphy said that this Committee should be composed of nine
or ten members. Jacques Perot suggested a small group. Gary
Edson recommended that the model of the Ethics Committee
be adopted.
In
conclusion, Jacques Perot proposed that the principle of
setting up these two Committees be adopted. He also proposed
that the Executive Council should entrust Bernice Murphy
with the task of drawing up the documents defining the mission
of these two Committees for circulation to members so that
it could then make a decision.
8.
FOLLOW-UP OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE BLUE SHIELD
Manus
Brinkman reported on the various developments of the International
Blue Shield Committee.
Ben
Koevets informed the Executive Council that the Dutch Blue
Shield Committee had been set up, and added that a Web site
had also been created, with the following URL address:
http://www.blueshield.nl.
A meeting will be organised in March 2002 with the collaboration
of the Instituut Collectie Nederland (ICN).
Lyndel
Prott and Jan Hladik, from UNESCO, reported on the current
status in the ratification of the Second Protocol of the
Convention of The Hague (1954). Nine countries have ratified
the Second Protocol. Twenty countries are required. UNESCO
hopes to attain this figure by the year 2003, if it is not
achieved in 2002. The UNESCO secretariat would like to facilitate
the implementation of the 1954 Convention and its Second
Protocol. UNESCO has carried out several studies that could
be used as guidelines to help countries to proceed with
its implementation.
9.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
9.1.
ICOM 2004
The
Working Group on this General Conference will be composed
of the following : ICOM President and President of the Advisory
Committee (ex officio), the Treasurer of ICOM and two representatives
to be chosen by the Advisory Committee. Council's representative
is Ms. Elisabet Olofsson.
10.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES
The
Membership Officer presented her report:
10.1.
National Committees
A
National Committee in Malta consisting of 8 paid-up individual
members has been created. Council approved its establishment
provided it has met all statutory requirements.
Council
was informed that the National Committee in Kyrgyzstan had
been re-organized and that a new set of officers was elected.
Annual membership dues for 2001-2 were paid by the Committee.
Council
was informed of the following Committees that were in arrears
with their membership dues for 2001 : Burundi, Central African
Republic, Haiti, Mauritania, Monaco,Togo and Ukraine. These
Committees, with the exception of Monaco and Ukraine, enjoy
membership subsidies. Council authorized the Secretariat
to write to each Committee member informing them of this
matter and requesting them to regularize the Committee's
situation. Council requested that they also be informed
of the possibility of financial assistance from the ICOM
Fund.
10.1.1.
Membership Subsidies
Council
was informed that Viet Nam is not included in ICOM's list
of 'subsidized' countries because relevant data concerning
its per capita income is not available from the World Bank.
However it was noted that Viet Nam is classified as a low-income
country by the Bank (together with Cambodia, China, Laos,
Mongolia and Myanmar and which are in ICOM's list of countries
that enjoy membership subsidies).
Council
approved the inclusion of Viet Nam in ICOM's list of countries
that can have membership subsidies.
10.1.2.
ICOM Fund
At
July 19th, 2001, the Fund's coffers had FF 22,379.33. Moreover
Council was informed that the newly-elected Board of the
French National Committee had allocated FF 3000 (? 450)
as its annual contribution to the Fund. When this contribution
is received by the Secretariat, the Fund would have FF 25379,93.
Council
approved the following requests for assistance from the
Fund: FF 1565 for the 2001 annual dues of five individual
members from Bosnia-Herzegovina; FF 755 ($ 135) for the
2002 annual dues of five individual members from Viet Nam.
10.1.3.
Special Subsidies
Council
approved requests of two National Committees for special
membership subsidies for 2002: Botswana and the Fed. Rep.
of Yugoslavia. Such a special subsidy implies that the individual
members of these Committees would pay ? 23 or U$ 27 for
2002 (representing less than one-half of the annual dues
that had been fixed for regular individuals). Council noted
that the Yugoslav Committee had enjoyed such a subsidy since
2000 and therefore stressed that this measure is not to
be construed as automatic. Council encourages National Committees
in difficulty to tap on resources other than ICOM to assist
them in the payment of their annual membership dues.
10.1.4.
Membership Statistics
The
Membership Officer informed Council of the membership statistics
by region that will appear in ICOM News, No. 1, 2002.
Council members expressed anxiety in the decrease of membership
in Asia, Latin America and North America (specifically in
the U.S.).
Mr.
Edson stated that the decrease of American membership could
be attributed to the monthly renewal system that has been
used by the American Committee for the past three years;
yearly numbers may therefore be 'deceptive'. He regretted
that such an implication was not considered when the system
was formally submitted by AAM/ICOM and approved by Council
in 1998. He advocated for a better representation and visibility
of ICOM at the national level to help increase membership.
Mr.
Makambila noted and congratulated the Swiss National Committee
for the financial assistance it has accorded to the Malian
National Committee; such aid has been used in the payment
of annual dues of Malian members since 1996.
It
was hoped that similar collaboration and assistance between
other National Committees could be promulgated, and that
mechanisms/solutions regarding this matter could be explored
by the proposed Task Force on National Committees.
10.2.
International Committees
10.2.1
Regular subventions
Council
approved document EZ/CF/01/32 that lists the regular subvention
that each International Committee would receive for 2002.
Each Committee will receive FF 42 (? 6.40) for each active
voting member (at November 27th, 2001).
Council
noted that in future the Working Group on International
Committees should study and check the financing of the Committees's
activities and that more emphasis should perhaps be placed
on specific, multi-disciplinary projects.
10.2.2.
Proposed International Committee on City Museums
Council
took note of the letter from the Chairperson of the Russian
National Committee regarding the 'content' of the proposed
committee. It took into consideration its calendar of meetings
from May 2002 in Moscow (that will draw up its strategy
of work) to future meetings in Budapest (2002) and in New
York (2003) leading to its participation in the 2004 General
Conference where its formal establishment is envisaged.
10.2.3.
Procedures for new committees
Council
discussed the procedures followed in the approval or disapproval
of new international committees and a possible 'freeze'
in submitting requests to the Advisory. It was proposed
that the Task Force on International Committees and Affiliated
Organisations (ICTF) study the instrument of process and
examination; and that relevant criteria be developed in
establishing new specialised bodies. An observation and
evaluation period of two-three years was suggested. Proposals
for new international committees should not be submitted
to the Advisory until the work of the Task Force had been
concluded and/or approved. Further the ICTF should examine
the philosophy and the procedures in the establishment and
approval of international committees. Council decided that
a moratorium be in force with regard to decisions on the
creation of international committees by Council; this moratorium
is valid until October 3, 2004.
11.
OTHER MATTERS
11.1.
Publications on-line
The
Communications Officer and Mr. Edson jointly reported on
a proposed on-line publications site that will serve as
a platform for ICOM's members. The articles, to be reviewed
by a Committee, can be consulted on-line by ICOM's members.
A name for this "forum" should be decided soon. The Review
Committee, to be composed of Mr. Edson, Mr. Pinna and Ms.
Herreman, will decide on its official name.
11.2.
Working Group on the Use of Languages
The
paper prepared by Messrs. Pinna and Makambila on ICOM's
official and working languages was tabled. Council established
a Working Group that would reflect and examine in-depth
the utilisation of languages in the work of the Organization.
Messrs. Pinna and Makambila selected a final list of names
for the Working Group (see appendix
2).
The
Chairperson of the Russian National Committee requested
that the Russian be used as one of the working languages
during the General Conference for the benefit of those delegates
who speak that language. This request will be transmitted
to the Working Group.
11.3.
Report on Cultural Tourism
Ms.
Herreman tabled her report on cultural tourism and emphasized
that the next essential step is to open this theme for discussion
in ICOM-L. It was suggested that an interdisciplinary working
group on cultural tourism be established and that the results
of their work be published.
11.4.
AFRICOM
Ms.
Olofsson reported on the work of Africom, officially registered
as an NGO in 2000 with official headquarters in Nairobi
(Kenya). AFRICOM archives at the ICOM Secretariat have been
transferred to Africa with duplicates of relevant documents
also stored in Paris. Membership documentation has been
prepared and a General Conference will be organized. Fund-raising
efforts are underway. At its next Board meeting the responsibilities
of each Secretariat (AFRICOM's and ICOM's) will be clarified
to avoid duplication and 'confusion'.
12.
DATE AND PLACE OF FUTURE MEETINGS
101st
session: 6-7 June 2002, Room XVI, UNESCO House, 1
rue Miollis, 75015 Paris, France.
102nd
session: 9-11 December 2002, Room XVI, UNESCO House,
1 rue Miollis, 75015 Paris, France.
(Original:
English)
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