Functioning of UNESCO as a factor of cultural heritage preservation: past and present
The article investigated the activities of international organizations in terms of their impact on the cultural heritage preservation in CIS countries. The author analyzes historical context of the formation of common international system for the protection of cultural heritage, as well as its current trends of development. Special attention is given to the non-governmental international organizations in the sphere of conservation and protection of cultural heritage. The major reasons of actualization of international cooperation for the conservation of cultural heritage in the context of globalization are shown. Thus, it can be argued that the experience of the functioning and development of the institutions and procedures of international cooperation in the conservation of cultural heritage clearly shows a steady increase in the role and importance of this activity. Allocated trend is caused by two main reasons. First, the object of international cooperation in this area (meaning cultural relations and cultural heritage as an object of international protection and conservation ) as such requires a joint and consolidated efforts of many countries to build a coherent system of cultural heritage preservation. Moreover, quite often the objects of protection in this area constitute unconditional cultural and historical value, not only for this or that particular state or nation, but for all mankind. Second, the procedural aspect resolution of many issues in the field of cultural heritage is often associated with the direct interaction of two or more states, which makes it impossible to elimination or reduction of the international dimension of the activities for the protection of culture. While at the institutional level, there are two main forms of international cooperation in the conservation of cultural heritage. On the one hand, it is the work of international (governmental ) organizations, and on the other, it is the work of international non-governmental (public) organizations. However, in modern conditions, in particular confirms that the experience of cultural heritage protection in the CIS member states, these two forms of international cooperation in the conservation of cultural heritage in no way be opposed to each other, since the objective trend of modernity is precisely the deepening of coordination between these two types of international organizations.