Endowment Fund > Honorary Committee

Honorary Committee of the EPA Endowment Fund

under the High Patronage of Mr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of Italy

Are participating:

Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, February 4, 2000
Former Secretary general of the United Nations
"It will be a pleasure for me to be part of the Honorary Committee of the EPA Fund...
The three orientations of PREMA, of which this project is a continuation - safeguard of cultural property, training of professionals and participation of youth in developing countries - are in line with the appeal launched by the World Commission on Culture and Development over which I had the honour to preside. Its report Our Cultural Diversity in fact stresses the need to reinforce and extend the role of museums in recognising the issue of identity linked to a territory."

Mr. Jacques Chirac, May 24, 2000
President of France
"I would like to assure you of my wholehearted support for the action launched by ICCROM to help African countries preserve and enhance their exceptional cultural heritage.
I am therefore happy to participate in the Honorary Committee of the Fund that aims to finance the School in Porto-Novo."

Mrs. Maria de Jesus Barroso Soares, May 24, 2000
President of the Pro Dignitate Foundation
"I sincerely believe in the importance of making African children aware of their country's culture through the museum collections of sub Saharan Africa.
I also believe that it would be a means of making them discover a world of fraternity, culture and peace.
It is therefore with great pleasure that... I accept to be part of the Honorary Committee of the EPA Fund."

Mr. Emile Derlin Zinsou, September 8, 2000
Former President of the Republic of Benin
"The work accomplished be EPA deserves to be known, understood by all and encouraged... Our little care in the up-keep and conservation of our passed artistic and architectural riches makes more urgent the need to record, protect and conserve our heritage and also innovate because each people must contribute to our long history".

Mr. Quincy Jones, November 1^st, 2000
Producer, composer and singer
"I particularly share the view that cultural heritage can be used to promote peace and tolerance among nations. Museums in Africa can play a key role in making people aware of the value of their heritage and in spreading mutual understanding and respect among children.
In training museum staff, the EPA will surely contribute to this..."

Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, June 14, 2001
President of Tunisia
"...true to his fight for peace and solidarity between people, particularly in favour of the poorest countries, President Ben Ali, applauds ICCROM's initiative and agrees to be a member of the Endowment Fund's Honorary Committee".

Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, December 9, 2002
Director-General of Unesco
"I agree to add my name to those of the personalities who are in the Honorary Committee of the EPA Endowment Fund created by ICCROM in order to finance activities linked to the development of the School".

Mr. Abdou Diouf, May 3, 2004
Secretary-General of OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)
"I confirm my participation in the Honorary Committee hoping that this support will help the School of African Heritage to develop its activities, essential for the valorisation of African cultures in the best conditions. The work carried out by this School, its efforts to be autonomous and independent, its contribution to the conservation of the cultural heritage of Africa, are admirable".

Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré, June 3, 2004
President of the African Union Commission
"I am all the more honoured to accept this distinction [...], that the Ecole du Patrimoine Africain, heir to the PREMA programme (Prevention in Museums of Africa), plays a fundamental role in the safeguarding and enhancement of African cultural heritage, Africa's most beautiful contribution to universal civilisation".