Strasbourg, 21/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 14 April the European Parliament adopted the resolution of Greek Socialist Nikolaos Sifunakis on the elaboration of a convention on the protection of cultural diversity in the context of work currently being carried out by UNESCO and in which the European Commission participates on behalf of the European Union. MEPs support an instrument for introducing standards and are calling on Member States to adopt a single voice for defending their policy in this field by respecting the double economic and cultural nature of cultural products. The questions on relations between international commercial law and the future UNESCO convention is essential, MEPs are keen to stress. According to MEPs it is necessary to provide protection of cultural diversity with an importance that is at least equal to that of other policies, with the setting up of a binding mechanism, which includes a method for resolving disputes internationally. According to MEPs, the convention should also recognise the right of countries to apply policies devised to protect cultural diversity and choice in the media. They also underline the importance of radio broadcasting as a public service and consider that countries should be able to retain the right of defining, organising and funding the public service mission of radio broadcasting in a social and democratic perspective. The convention should therefore determine the nature, amount and beneficiaries. MEPs insist that the convention should therefore be based on the principles of human rights and avoid any violation of these rights in the name of cultural diversity.