Rt. Hon. Anna Diamantopoulou

What is Cultural Diplomacy to you? By The Rt. Hon. Anna Diamantopoulou, Former Minister of Education for Greece

“There used to be many efforts in Cultural Diplomacy between Greece and Turkey. Many peace-oriented events in the cultural and touristic areas used to take place. The relationship between the two countries had not been easy for years, but culture was always a very good way to start the next step.”

"Is it not enough to have greater political union or greater economic union: we need more understanding among people- we need to enforce mutual understanding in societies and between nations. … What happens when there is no common understanding between people and nations? There is misunderstanding. This means the same thing is perceived a different way in Germany, a different way in the Netherlands, a different way in Malta. There are many conflicts and, of course, there are stereotypes, and this is the way they can be transformed in any kind of conflict. … Generally speaking, differences in manner of expression and communication, the similarities in social structures, and historical experience account for a communication gap between European member states."

- The ICD Annual Conference on Cultural Diplomacy 2012; Berlin, Germany, December 14th, 2012