Cape Coast, Jan. 10, GNA - Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on Saturday observed that the commemoration of the abolition of slavery is not only an act of historical solidarity with the victims, but also a re-dedication to the struggle against racism, discrimination, intolerance and injustice.

He said the framework of continuing struggle, was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaim the dignity and respect each person is entitled to, by virtue of being a human being. Mr Matsuura stated these when he launched the International Year to commemorate the struggle against slavery and its abolition, at the Cape Coast Castle.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2004 for the commemoration with UNESCO promoting events and activities to draw attention to the historic struggle.

The UNESCO noted that remembrance was an expression of respect, adding that, "to forget the past injustices and struggles, is to add fresh injury to those suffered in former times".

The International Year, he said was intended to prevent the process of forgetting and to stimulate the recovery of memory, adding that, 2004 was chosen, since it is the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Haiti, the first black republic, an event, that symbolised the struggle for freedom from the iniquities of slavery and the slave trade. He said during the period, events and activities would be undertaken around the world, especially in Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe, on the injustices of the "so-called triangular trade" and reactions against those injustices.

The Year, would also offer an opportunity to further explore how different civilisations and cultures interact with each other, he said noting that the UNESCO project on the "Slave Route" launched 10 years ago, has helped to document a process of enforced inter-cultural exchange.

"While decrying its involuntary character, we must recognise that that meeting between cultures has made remarkable unforeseen and unintended positive consequences, particularly through the spread of African customs, beliefs, and creativity, at first in the so-called new world and then subsequently across the entire globe," he said. More

Mr Matsuura, said the launch of the International Year, was also an opportunity to bring renewed attention to the abiding and widespread influence of African cultures and civilisations.

He said this aspect, was of special importance not only to the peoples of the Americas and the Caribbean, but also of Africa, particularly in the context of present-day efforts to encourage open, free and equal encounters between different cultures so that through a genuine dialogue, the prospects for peace, mutual understanding and tolerance in "our troubled world may be enhanced".

The Director-General underscored the important connection between culture and education, stressing that education is what the International Year was about, and called on countries to ensure that the struggle against slavery and the slave trade, becomes part of what all children learn.

The Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, observed that too little of what was known about the slave trade had been "written by only one leg of the tripod," saying, "the history is European or white American," and that Africans and people of African descent, had to re-examine from an African point of view, what happened and why.

"We know the effects, we live the effects, we must know better the causes and processes to begin to understand and through understanding, begin to build bridges of solidarity", he stressed. According to him, Africans, in this regard, had to research their history, including the history of the slave trade to share among them and with the world.

The Minister commended UNESCO for its efforts over the years to keep the world's memory on the slave trade alive for posterity. He observed that for Ghanaians and Africans the commemoration, taking place on African soil, signified one important fact that the struggle against slavery, was began on African soil by Africans.

Ghana and some West Africa countries were replete with evidence of such struggle and mentioned the anti-slavery defence wall at Gwollu and Nalerigu in northern Ghana, which attested to the struggle against the obnoxious trade.

He said the choice of Ghana was significant, because it was determined to be the gateway to the homeland for Africans in the Diaspora and had made a commitment to seek the truth and share with all people especially Africans in the Diaspora, "to find a balm that can soothe this wicked pain".

He said it was in view of this, that Ghana, intends in the year 2007 to "share" her 50th independence with the 200th of the abolition of slavery, under the theme "Celebration of African excellence" The enactment of a choreographed version of the slave trade and the struggle against it entitled "MUSU" by the National Theatre Company to portray the significance of the ceremony, drew prolonged applause from the gathering including Ministers from Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo and Nigeria. 10 Jan 04