UN General Assembly
2000

developing countries. Because of this, maximizing cultural resources and local genetic resources for development and for preserving traditional knowledge will become essential for sustainable development, since it offers an appropriate legal framework to enable countries of the South to preserve their intellectual property rights to their genetic resources. Implementation of a global policy for economic development will have no really significant effect on real development of the human being if the question of peace is neglected. Peace and development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's constitution states explicitly that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. It is therefore essential that the concept and the practice of peace become a real culture so as to enable societies and individuals to develop and enrich themselves through their cultural diversity. We welcome the proclamation of 2001 as the “Year of Dialogue among Civilizations”. Social development and the worldwide dissemination of a culture of peace are definitely basic