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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 25, 2005
AGBU CO-SPONSORS DIASPORA CONFERENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL YEHUDI
MENUHIN FOUNDATION
Brussels, Belgium – AGBU, in partnership with the International
Yehudi Menuhin Foundation and several organizations, co-sponsored
an international conference on “Europe’s Diasporas and European
Citizenship” in Barcelona, Spain from January 27th to 29th, 2005.
The Barcelona conference brought together academics, civil society
organizations, specialists of European citizenship, and public
officials to discuss the Diasporas’ participation in the process
of European integration, and the contribution they can make to the
establishment of a genuine European citizenship.
The conference’s conclusions defined European Diasporas as enduring
networks and transnational communities with a strong attachment to
Europe. Among those present were organizations associated with the
Armenian, Greek, Jewish, and Roma Diasporas.
One of the conference topics concerned the contribution Diasporas
can make in giving substance to European citizenship. Tony Venables,
Director of the European Citizen Action Service, suggested that, in
view of their multi-faceted identities, Diasporas should be considered
the “vanguard of Europe.”
The conference also emphasized the challenges, such as cultural
erosion, as well as the opportunities available in developing their
cultural networks across national borders and contributing to the
process of European integration.
A report of the conference and conference papers will be made available
at
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