Carta Mediterránea en inglés
Organización Carta mediterránea
THE MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER
FINAL TEXT
Madrid, 11 January 1997
The Mediterranean Region, cradle of the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam – melting-pot of peoples and cultures, a place of encounters and scene of confrontations,is the crossroads of three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.
The concepts of democracy, human and communal rights stem from thehumanistic tradition of the Mediterranean cultures and belong to the common legacy of the peoples of the Region.
The splendour and universality of these principles lead the Members of theMediterranean Charter Group to make this Declaration. And, therefore,
The undersigned members of the Mediterranean Charter Group,
Aware of belonging to a historic community, forged over many centuries during which the different existing cultures have been mutually enriched and have given rise to new shared values and traditions,
Moved by the aim of promoting among them the development of relations that will allow them to establish conditions suitable for a life in common, based on a genuine and durable peace,
Desirous of eliminating the causes of strain which exist in the Mediterranean Region and conscious of the need to foster confidence among its peoples with the aim of developing stability and security in the Region,
Recognizing the indivisible character of the entire Mediterranean Region=s security,
Affirming the importance of fostering their inter-regional relations in order to define their common interests and achieve a common prosperity, taking into account, in particular, the need to cooperate among themselves towards the sustainable development of the developing countries of the Region,
Convinced that the States and Peoples of the Mediterraenean Region must, in their mutual relations, abide by the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter and by the Declaration on Principles of International Law concening Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations (General Asembly Resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970),
Deciding to foster as common values respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the development of democracy,
Considering that intercultural dialogue and contacts among individuals and the Peoples of the Mediterranean Region contribute towards improved mutual understanding, peace and progress,
Bearing in mind the Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euromediterranean Conference held in Barcelona on 27-28 November 1995, as well as the Programme of Work annexed to it,
Recommend to the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region the adoption of the Declaration of Principles, the establishment of the Priority Fields and Particular Objectives of Cooperation as well as the establishment of the means for Promotion and Future Action which follow:
I
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE RELATIONS AMONG THE STATES AND PEOPLES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
The Mediterranean Charter Group invites the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region to:
Reaffirm their dedication to peace, security and justice and to the constant development of friendly relations and cooperation,
Express, in their capacity as Members of the United Nations, their common adherence to the principles stated below, which are in conformity with the United Nations Charter,
Declare their commitment to respect and to put into practice – each one in its relations with all other States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region, regardless of their political, economic or social systems or their size, geographic location or level of economic development – the following principles which govern their mutual relations, all of which are of prime importance and are jointly applicable and interpretable:
1. Sovereign Equality
The States of the Mediterranean region will respect the sovereign equality of each of them and all the rights inherent in their sovereignty including, in particular, the right of every State to legal equality, territorial integrity, liberty and political independence. They will also respect the right of each of them freely to chose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural systems as well as to promulgate laws and to enforce them within its respective areas of jurisdiction. Questions of frontiers will be resolved in conformity with the principles of International Law contained in the United Nations Charter and in the Declaration annexed to General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV). They have the right to decide whether or not to be members of international organizations or parties to bilateral or multilateral treaties, including treaties of alliance; they also have the right to remain neutral.
2. Refraining from resorting to the threat or use of force
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will refrain, in their mutual relations as well as in their international relations in general, from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or the political independence of any State or in any other manner which is incompatible with International Law in general, with the objectives of the United Nations or with the present Declaration.
They shall also refrain from any action which constitutes a threat of force or the direct or indirect use of force against any State and from any demonstration of force aimed at inducing another State of the Region to relinquish the full exercise of its sovereign rights. They shall also refrain, in their mutual relations and with regard to any other State, from any act or reprisal by force.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region shall mutually respect the territorial integrity of each of them and shall refrain from making the territory of any of them the object of military occupation or of other direct or indirect acts of force contrary to International Law, or the object of acquisition by the use or threat of such measures. The occupation or acquisition of territories by means of such measures will not be recognized as conforming to Law.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will mutually consider as inviolable their respective frontiers, which in any event they will refrain from attacking.
3. Non-intervention in the affairs within the exclusive jurisdiction of States
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region shall refrain from any direct or indirect, individual or collective form of intervention in the internal or external affairs within the exclusive jurisdiction of any of them, regardless of any concrete measures which they might have freely agreed to in their mutual relations.
Accordingly, they shall refrain in all circumstances from any form of armed intervention or the threat of such intervention, as well as from any other military, political, economic or other type orf coercive act aimed at subordinating to their own interests the exercise by another State or People of the rights inherent in their sovereignty and at thus obtaining from it any type of advantage which is not in accordance with International Law.
They will consolidate cooperation among them to prevent and actively eliminate terrorism in all its forms, as well as the factors which inspire it, and they will refrain from rendering direct or indirect asistance to subversive or other type of activities aimed at the violent overthrow of the régime of another participating State
4. Settlement of disputes by peaceful means
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will settle their disputes by peaceful means so that international peace and security and justice are not endangered.
They will endeavour, in good faith and in a spirit of cooperation, to attain a quick and equitable solution, in accordance with International Law, to any disputes which might confront them. To that end, they will use peaceful means selected by them, including any settlement procedure agreed to prior to the dispute to which they may become parties.
In case a solution is not found by means freely chosen by them, the parties to a dispute will continue to seek a mutually agreed method for the peaceful settlement of the controversy.
Those States of the Region which may be parties to a dispute among themselves, as well as other States of the Region, will refrain from any action which might aggravate the situation to the extent of endangering the maintenance of international peace and security and which might therefore hamper the peaceful settlement of the dispute.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will take steps, including political consultations and negotiations, with a view to creating particular systems for the peaceful settlement of disputes among them.
5. Equal rights and free determination of peoples
By virtue of the principle of equal rights and free determination of peoples, all the peoples have the right to determine – in full liberty and without external interference, when and how they chose – ther internal and external political condition and to carry on as they deem appropriate their political, economic, social and cultural development.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region shall respect the equal rights of peoples and their right to free determination, acting at all times in conformity with the aims and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant norms of International Law, including those which refer to the territorial integrity of States.
6. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean region recognize the universal value of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the respect for which is a fundamental element of the peace, justice and wellbeing which are necessary to asure the development of friendly and cooperative relations among them as well as among other States.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region shall respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all and they, jointly and severally and in cooperation with the United Nations, will strive to promote their universal and effective respect.
They shall promote and foster the effective exercise of civil, political, economic, social cultural and other rights, all of which stem from the dignity inherent to human beings and are essential for their free development.
In this context, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region shall recognize and respect the freedom of persons to profess and practise, individually or in community with others, their religion or belief, acting in accordance with the dictates of their own conscience.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region in whose territory there exist ethnic, religious or linguistic minotities, shall respect the right of individuals belonging to them to equality before the law and shall take the necessary measures to ensure for them the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
To that end they will take particularly into account the World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, 1993), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the rights of the young and those of the elderly. They will give particular consideration to the rights of women in the Mediterranean, in accordance with the resolutions of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995).
In the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will act in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They will also fulfill their obligations as defined in those international agreements which bind them including, among others, the International Covenants and Conventions on Human Rights to which they may be party.
7. Cooperation among States
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region in developing cooperation both mutually and with all States in all fields, will do so in accordance with the aims and purposes of the United Nations Charter, the Declaration annexed to General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV) and the principles embodied in this Charter.
They will endeavour, in developing their cooperative relationships, to promote mutual understanding and confidence, friendly and good-neighbourly relations among themselves, international peace, security and justice. They will also strive to improve the wellbeing of their populations and to contribute towards the achievement of their aspirations by, inter alia, the benefits resulting from a greater mutual knowledge and from progress and achievements in the economic, social, scientific, tehnological, cultural and humanitarian fields. They will adopt measures aimed at fostering favourable conditions that will bring these benefits to the reach of all; they will aim at reducing the differences in the levels of economic development in the region and throughout the world.
They will cooperate in particular in the preservation of the environment in the Mediterranean Region and in the use of its natural resources so as to help to achieve the goal of sustainable development both at the regional as well as the global levels, in accordance with the Barcelona Convention (1975) and its Protocols, the resolutions of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), including Agenda 21 and Agenda Med (1994).
They will cooperate in the adoption of measures that will make possible the reinforcement of security in the Region and, in particular, those that will constitute effective steps aimed at the final objective of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will also cooperate in the promotion of both intergovenmental and non-governmental humanitarian assistance mechanisms, under the direction of the United Nations and relevant international agencies.
8. Bona-fide fulfillment of obligations incurred according to international law
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will fulfill in good faith their obligations acquired according to International Law, both those obligations that stem from the principles and norms of general International Law as well as those that stem from particular international treaties in force to which they may be party.
In the exercise of their sovereign rights, including the right to promulgate laws and to enforce them in their respective areas of jurisdiction, they will abide by their obligations under International Law. They will also duly take into account the provisions of the Declaration approved by the Barcelona Euro-Mediteranean Conference.
II
PRIORITY FIELDS AND PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES OFCOOPERATION
1. Peace and security building
From their respect for the United Nations Charter, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region wish to eliminate the causes of strain which might exist among them, contributing towards the strengthening of peace and security in the world and are determined to strengthen confidence among them in order to increase stability and cooperative security in the Mediterranean Region. To that end they emphasize, above all, that peace and security building should be based on factors of economic wellbeing, justice and democracy.
Taking into account the positive experience of the CSCE process, they will favourably consider the adoption of a body of Confidence Measures for the Mediterranean Region (CMM) which, with transparency, will constitute a factor of détente for the Mediteranean Region.
They consider it, therefore, fitting to undertake joint efforts aimed at fostering détente and disarmament; and in order to realize them they will be based on the following essential considerations:
– The complementary nature of the political and economic aspects of security.
– The inter-relationship between the security of every State and the security of the Mediterranean region as a whole and the existing relationship, in the widest concept of global security, between security in the Mediterranean Region and security in Europe.
– The respect for the security interests of every State and all Peoples of the Mediterranean Region, which is inherent in their sovereign equality.
– The importance of finding a peaceful and just solution to all of the conflicts that exist or may exist in the Mediterranean Region, which hinder progress towards the establishment of permanent bases for peace and security.
– The importance for participants in negotiating fora to ensure that information on their evolution, progress and relevant results is communicated in due form to the other participating States and, consequently, recognition of the justified interest of each of those States for their viewpoint to be taken into account.
On the basis of these reflections, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will consider taking measures aimed at strengthening confidence, the reduction of armed forces, the reduction of armaments of mass destruction and their carriers, as well as at transforming the Mediterranean Region into a nuclear-free zone.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will also give consideration to the creation of regional systems for cooperative security in the Mediterranean, including the possibility of establishing permanent structures for collaboration which, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, might be used to undertake peace-making, peace-keeping or peace enforcement missions.
2. Economy, co-development and association
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region consider that their efforts to intensify economic and social cooperation among them contribute to the strengthening of peace and security in the Mediterranean Region and throughout the world. And to that end, they will take due account of the resolutions of the North African and Middle East Economic Summit (Casablanca, 1994).
Conscious of the diversity of their economic and social systems, they reaffirm their determination to intensify cooperation among themselves which, taking due account of the different levels of economic development, should evolve on the basis of equality, mutual satisfaction and reciprocity, so as to permit, on the whole, an equitable sharing of benefits and obligations.
In this context they are convinced that the global economic interdependence fostered after the end of the Acold war@ requires intensified and more efficient common efforts to solve the main economic problems of the world, such as the feeding of and provision of drinking water to populations, research on alternative sources of energy, basic products and their distribution, and monetary and financial problems, particularly equitable negotiations of debt; and, consequently they highlight the need to foster stable and equitable international economic relations so as to contribute to the sustainable, continuous and diversified economic development of all countries.
They are accordingly determined to develop their cooperation, adopting joint measures in the following areas:
(i) Food security
– Food security is a fundamental element of the overall security of each of the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region, as well as of the Region as a whole. The reduction of food dependency in order to achieve food sufficiency demands direct assistance to the affected contries so that they may develop their own productivc sectors. To these ends, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will promote the increase of food production, improvements in cultivation techniques and the training of farmers, as well as the qualitative and quantitative improvement of farming and cattle-raising, both as regards production and distribution and security of supply. They will also guarantee the availability of basic foods to the peoples, as a fundamental right.
(ii) Debt reduction
– In order to overcome the relationships of dependency, so as to achieve a true interdependence, it is essential to resolve the debt crisis which is the consequence of underdevelopment and of the deterioration of inter-exchange relations. Efforts to reduce them and to manage them jointly are decisive factors in order to influence favourably the process of the economic and social development of the States of the Mediterranean Region.
– As a means of fostering joint development within the Mediterranean Region, the Governments of the concerned States will consider measures aimed at restraining the escalation of debt as well as its reduction, and the improvement of its handling and management.
(iii) Trade exchange and subregional groupings
– Fostering the expansion of the mutual trade of goods and services, particularly through the reduction or progressive elimination of all types of obstacles to trade, establishing the necessary contacts for the creation of a free-trade zone, taking account of the recent GATT Uruguay Round agreements and the functions entrusted to WTO.
– Encouraging all measures aimed at strengthening horizontal cooperation as well as the development of subregional groupings by such means as the collaboration (“partnership”) system.
– Promoting business contacts among the representatives of official agencies and those of the various organizations, enterprises, companies and banks.
– Promoting the publication and dissemination of economic and commercial information as well as improving conditions for the implementation of measures aimed at fostering trade and international cooperation in the field of commercial promotion, including marketing.
(iv) Industrial cooperation and projects of common interest
– Facilitating intergovernmental and other agreements among interested parties which promote forms of cooperation such as joint production and sale, mixed companies, the interchange of technical knowledge, patents and licenses, common industrial research, the transfer of technologies, particularly Aclean@ technologies, etc.
- Promoting the development of new common projects in the sectors of energy resources, the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials, the exchange of electric energy, the development of road networks and seaways and, in general, research and development particularly in the field of renewable energy resources.
(v) Science and technology
– Expanding cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport technology, meteorology and hydrology, communications technology, physics, chemistry, medicine and public health, etc., through the interchange of publications and information, communications and direct contacts, the preparation and joint implementation of programmes and projects of common interest, participation in international programmes and other appropriate measures.
(vi) Tourism
– Encouraging the increase of sustainable tourism both by individuals and groups by means, among others, of the improvement of touristic infrastructure and cooperation in this field, the implementation of joint tourism projects and the exchange of information.
3. Environment
Cooperation in the field of environment should be based on generally recognized principles and norms, such as: ensuring that the activities carried out in the territory within the jurisdiction or control of one State of the Region do not cause harm to the environment beyond its frontiers; informing and consulting States that may be affected before authorizing any activity potentially harmful to the environment; prior evaluation of the environmental impact of any activity potentially harmful to the environment; using the best available technology and resorting to the best environmental practices; the provision of immediate information and cooperating in the elimination of the effects of any accident that might entail envivonmental damage and cooperating through the appropriate international agencies.
Cooperation should be intensified through the conclusion of international agreements aimed at preserving the natural and human environment of the Region, in areas such as the protection of soils, forests and vegetation covering, desertification, urban development, coastal zones, water resources, protection of the marine environment, the conservation of nature and natural reserves and the control of the international traffic of waste products and dangerous substances. Cooperation must also be intensified through existing institutions, particularly the Mediterranean Plan of Action (MAP) and the UNEP Blue Plan and in collaboration with those services of the European Commission responsible for the implementation of the environmental aspects of the AEuro-Mediterranean partnership@. Cooperation should also be intensified with the representatives of society and, in particular, the relevant non-governmental organizations which work in a coordination.
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will take into account their differing levels of development and will abide, as appropriate, by the recommendations of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and of regional instruments for the protection of the environment in the Mediterranean Region, in pursuing the objective of sustainable development for the achievement of the best quality of life without harming the legitimate interests of future generations.
The States and civil society organizations undertake to participate actively in the Mediterranean Commision for Sustainable Development established within the framework of the MAP/UNEP, making it a forum for environmental debate and relevant interchange for the sustainable development of the Region.
4. Population, health and social policy
(i) Population
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region consider that population movements, in particular those of migrant workers in the Mediterranean Region, have reached considerable dimensions, that they constitute an important economic, social and human factor, both in recipient countries and countries of origin and, at the same time, have given rise to economic, social and human problems which should be resolved in the common interest and within the framework of International Law and in particular of applicable international treaties. The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will foster medium and long-term actions aimed at mitigating and resolving those problems caused by population movements in the emigrant receiving areas, implementing and promoting in this regard the results of the United Nations Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994).
(ii) Health
The States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region aim, as a priority objective of their reciprocal cooperation, at the achievement of a high level of human health, undertaking to that end joint actions for the prevention of disease and supporting health information and education. The requirements related to the protection of health should constitute an essential element of their cooperation in other areas such as the preservation of the environment, science and technology, social policies and development cooperation.
(iii) Social policy
In their reciprocal cooperation activities in matters of social policy, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will take into account the Copenhaguen Declaration on Social Development (1995). In this regard, they will take into account the concerns of each State according to its level of socio-economic development, fostering those conditions that may best allow the orderly movement of workers while protecting their personal and social wellbeing; they will promote, as appropriate, their contracts and linguistic and professional training. The elementary States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region should endeavour to ensure that migrant workers receive in the recipient countries treatment which to the greatest posible extent is comparable to that received by national workers, with particular attention to the requirements for integration, which should increase in proportion to the length of residence, due account being taken of the need to respect the principle of family unity as well as the rights of children, in particular that of receiving supplementary education in their own culture and language.
5. The human dimension and intercultural dialogue
Without prejudice to the regional systems to which they belong, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will give particularly careful consideration to the establishment of appropriate mechanisms and procedures within the Mediterranean Region that permit international control, by appropriate organs, of their obligation to respect the fundamental human rights and liberties recognized by International Law. Such procedures will include those whose functioning may be innitiated on the demand of one or more States of the Region.
Intercultural dialogue is a basic element to the fostering of regional cooperation and convergence. Cooperation for the protection of the cultural environment and the fostering of intercultural dialogue will be based on the principles, criteria and aims of UNESCO programmes. To these ends, the following actions, among others, will be promoted:
(i) Human contacts
– The development of contacts among persons, taking family links as a particular basis and protecting, as required, the reunification of families.
– The progressive granting of facilities for travel motivated by personal or professional reasons, gradually simplifying entry and exit procedure, reducing regulations related to the movement within their territory of the nationals of other States of the Region and progresively reducing the fees for visas and official travel documents.
– The favouring of meetings among the young, increasing sport contacts and competitions.
(ii) Intercultural dialogue
– The acknowledgement of and respect for cultural, ethnic and religious differences.
– The promotion of mutual knowlege and understanding through the establishment of appropriate regional structures (fora).
(iii) Access to information
– The fostering of more free and wider dissemination of all types of information, improving its circulation by oral, printed, filmed and broadcast means, and the means of access to such information, and extending its exchange.
– The improvement of the conditions in which journalists from one State of the Region exercise their professional activities in other States.
6. Education and culture
With a view to contributing to the strengthening of peace and of understanding among the Peoples of the Mediterranean Region, without regard to race, sex, age, culture, language, religion, value-systems or ethnic, social or national origin, and irrespective of their political, economic and social systems, the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region will intensify among themselves scientific, cultural and academic exchanges and the solution of educational problems. To these ends they intend to adopt measures which favour the achievement of the following objecives:
(i) Cooperation and exchanges in cultural matters
– The extension of relationships among State institutions and non-governmental organizations which deal with cultural matters.
– The fostering af a wider mutual knowledge of literary, art and other cultural productions, as well as access to the same.
– The extension of contacts and cooperation among creative artists and persons undertaking cultural activities.
– The fostering of cultural cooperation activities such as international artistic, theatrical, musical, film or other festivals, book fairs and exhibitions, joint projects for the protection of monuments and historic/artistic sites and the co-production and exchange of films and of radio and television programmes.
(ii) Cooperation and exchanges in educational matters
– The extension of relationships among State institutions and non-governmental organizations which deal with educational matters.
– The improvement, under conditions which are mutually acceptable, of access by students, teachers and researchers of each of the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region to the educational, cultural and scientific institutions of the others; and a more precise evaluation of the question of comparison and equivalence of degrees and academic diplomas.
– The fostering of the study of the languages and civilizations of other peoples with a view to creating conditions favourable to the wider knowledge of the culture of each country.
– The exchange of experiences regarding teaching methods in various fields.
– The promotion of education and culture for peace programmes, according to UNESCO guidelines.
– The promotion of environmental education in order to achieve an identification with the environmental and historic space which defines the various cultural identities of the Mediterranean.
III
PROMOTION AND FUTURE ACTION
The Mediterranean Charter Group recommends to the States and Peoples of the Mediteranean Region and to the regional organizations of the region, that they to work towards the establishment of a continuous process aimed at consolidating solidarity in the Mediterranean Region through concrete and creative initiatives which take account of the specific realities and needs of the Region.
The Mediterranean Charter Group expresses the wish that, within the framework of a dynamic process, the institutional developments of the Barcelona Declaration, approved at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference, be pursued so that it will achieve continuity and become a permanent forum for cooperation among all the States and Peoples of the Region.
In particular, the Mediterranean Charter Group recommends to the the States and Peoples of the Mediteranean Region the adoption of the following measures:
(i) The establishment of a Permanent Secretariat with responsibility for the coordination and management of the process,
(ii) The development and consolidation of the system of sectoral conferences or Debating Fora which should deal, in particular, with the following areas of cooperation:
FORUM FOR PEACE-BUILDING AND SECURITY
FORUM FOR ECONOMY, JOINT DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATION
FORUM FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
FORUM FOR POPULATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICY
FORUM FOR THE HUMAN DIMENSION AND INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
FORUM FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE
(iii) To convene Summit Meetings of Heads of State and Government of the countries of the Region whose function will be the adoption of the most formal instruments and the most important decisions related to the establishment and modification of the processes and basic structures of the Conference and, in particular, of those intended to implement the agreements reached by the various sectorial conferences.
IV
CRITERIA BY WHICH THE MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER IS INSPIRED
The Mediterranean Charter is inspired by the following criteria:
(1) COMPREHENSIVENESS
Its scope is not limited to one part of the Mediterranean Basin, nor to the coastal countries, but includes those other bordering zones which have traditionally been considered as Mediterranean. Accordingly, the Declaration is called the Mediterranean Charter rather than the Charter of the Mediterranean, indicating by this title its aim contributing towards overcoming the contradictions and problems of international society.
(2) INTER-CULTURALISM, PLURALISM AND TOLERANCE
The basic thread woven throughout this Charter, which gives it legitimacy, is that of inter-culturalism, rejecting any interpretation of this as a homogenization of the diverse cultural identities of the Mediterranean under the influence of those which are more powerful. The inter-cultural Mediterranean society is conceived as an open space in thich the diverse cultural identities coexist under equality of opportunity, the only factor able to legitimize them, and far from any consideration of ethnic, religious or cultural purity or of any kind of intolerance. In this regard account has been taken of the contents of the ACarthage Charter on Tolerance in the Mediterranean@ adopted under UNESCO auspices (1995).
(3) SOLIDARITY
The Charter can only be understood as a proposal based on solidarity among peoples, cultural identities and individuals, above particular interests be it at the intra-state, national, international or supranational levels.
(4) COOPERATION
The declaration is conceived as the issue of the will to overcome existing differences and distances so as to design a common project.
(5) EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNTIES AND RIGHTS
The Charter is, fundamentally, a declaration against all kinds of discrimination stemming from any distinctive feature such as sex or culture, and against xenophobia and racism. This presupposes the basic promotion of strict equality of opportunities and rights.
(6) PEACE-BUILDING AND SECURITY
Mediterranean peace and security are understood as an absolute good, at their triple levels, i.e., international, intra-state and humanitarian. As such, they are to be promoted, alerted against deviations, protected, continued and developed. Peace-building and security are, therefore, a primary consideratin for the Mediterranean Region as a whole. These criteria will be understood as the means of promoting the confidence and security measures which are indispensible for the peaceful settlement of all conflicts that affect the Mediterranean area, with a view to achieving a cooperative model in the Region.
V
CONSTITUTION OF THE “MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER” ORGANIZATION
In order to achieve the aims, priorities and actions contained in the Mediterranean Charter,
THE MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER GROUP AGREES TO CONSTITUTE ITSELF AT THIS CEREMONY AS A PRIVATE REGIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH UNDERTAKES, AT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL BETWEEN SOCIETIES AND STATES, TO PROMOTE THE PRINCIPLES WHICH GOVERN RELATIONS AMONG MEDITERRANEAN PEOPLES AND STATES REFLECTED IN THIS CHARTER, THE PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES OF EACH OF THE PRIORITY AREAS OF COOPERATION HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, AS WELL AS THE ACTIONS FOR CREATING THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE ITS AIMS AND SETTING IN MOTION THE ORGANIZATION.
VI
ADDITIONAL CLAUSES
VALIDITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER
The present Charter will come into force from the moment it is approved by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Mediterranean Charter Group which, following such approval, will come to be constituted as the “Mediterranean Charter” Organization, responsible thereafter for the effective implementation of this document.
REVIEW AND UPDATING OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CHARTER
Four years after the present Charter comes into force, the “Mediterranean Charter” Organization will convene a meeting for the purpose of reviewing and possibly revising it.
Madrid, 11 January 1997
* * * * *
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
The Acting President of the “Mediterranean Charter” Organization, reflecting the proposals made by various signatories of the preceding Charter, certifies that the document is subscribed to by different persons in their indidual capacity belonging to various societies. It is therefore in this capacity as CIVILIAN SOCIETY that the signatories address the States and Peoples of the Mediterranean Region and invites them to adopt, establish or promote the contents of the Mediterranean Charter.
Madrid, 13 January 1997