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Forum of Intercultural Cities
in Bari
 Bari, is an Italian city, which is commonly referred to
as a gateway to the south. On 11 December 2009,
Bari hosted a conference jointly organised by the
Council of Europe’s ‘Intercultural Cities’ initiative
and the Region of Apulia.
The conference discussed the issue of: "Local
communities and the policies of hospitality and
integration in Europe and in the Mediterranean". It
attracted participants from various fields, including
academics, international, national and local policymakers,
integration experts, journalists and civil
society representatives from Europe and south
Mediterranean countries.
The conference
examined the Intercultural Cities initiative’s
principles and methodologies in the light of
increasingly diverse communities. More specifically
it explored its potential for re-shaping city
governance and policies.
Topicality of the intercultural cities approach
The Deputy Secretary General of the Council of
Europe, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio highlighted how
topical the intercultural cities approach was. She
made specific reference to the recent debate over
banning the construction of minarets: "In the Swiss
referendum, Neuchâtel, which participates in the
Intercultural Cities programme, voted against the
national trend." She underlined that "Neuchâtel is a
clear example that strong political leadership,
together with an intercultural approach to
governance and policies, can transform the
presence of 25% foreigners [as it is the case in
Neuchâtel, note by the author] into an asset of
dynamism, creativity and growth."
Intercultural diversity management – the role of
media
Two days before the conference, a young group of
international journalists met in Bari. Their task was
to prepare reports on the city’s current level of
intercultural acceptance and diversity. This young
group of journalists came to the following very
profound and important realisation. They recognised
that interculturality went well beyond the content of
their reports. It is something they could actively
experience and engage in their professional
conduct.
Paola Guarnieri, a young journalist working for Rai
radio, explained: "We are twelve journalists - twelve professionals who perform
the same job, where we normally are asked to act as neutral and
impartial witnesses. But here in Bari we were asked something
more - to be not only impartial witnesses, but also individuals.
People with different ways of seeing, with different cultures
and different opinions. We brought our diversity in our work and
those differences that could have had caused problems or
obstacles, turned out to increase the quality of work of all of
us."
The conference concluded with the launch of the
"Speak out against discrimination" campaign in the
region of Apulia.
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