Brussels, 01/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Eurocinema association intends to follow negotiations starting up again at UNESCO very closely on the adoption of an international convention on cultural diversity. Around 180 countries will take part in these negotiations in which the European Union will be represented by Commissioner Jan Figel (education and culture) and who is currently preparing the position that he'll be defending on the behalf of Europe (EUROPE 19 November 2004). Eurocinema is a member of the international network for cultural diversity (RIDC), which according to its Managing Director Yvon Thiec will include intense debates, given the opposition of the USA, Australia and Japan (as well as determination from the European Union). According to Yvon Thiec, the draft if “full of good intentions” but “it is difficult to see whether it will constitute a solid element in international law for legitimising public policies in support of culture and the cultural industries by becoming a symmetrical pendant of the WTO and last but not least, by re-balancing North/South cultural exchanges, a sensitive subject that has received little attention”. The convention is expected to be adopted in the autumn (its supporters are hoping for this).