- Jeju. On the working group report, the delegation wished to share two points. Firstly, on the results of this group and its recommendation concerning the dialogue between the Evaluation Body and Member States, the delegation was of the opinion that this dialogue was necessary. However, it took note of the recommendation of the Evaluation Body to postpone the implementation of this recommendation until the new forms took effect. That said, the delegation would wait to see this effect on the ground. Nevertheless, it remained firmly convinced that this dialogue was crucial. Secondly, regarding the point raised by Palestine on the dual option, which was adopted on an exceptional basis at the last Committee, the delegation was glad that this dual option had solved some of the issues during the Committee session. However, it was absolutely urgent to find a more durable solution so that this situation was not repeated and so that the Committee could work calmly. The delegation did not think that a second Committee with two draft decisions from the Evaluation Body was the best way to conduct the Committee's work.
- 67. The delegation of Ireland thanked the ad hoc working group for all their efforts so far. Ireland considered this dialogue option to be a very useful measure in principle, and it understood the need for the Committee to consider the issue. However, for its first inscription on the Representative List in 2017, the delegation found the referral option to be very useful as it enabled it to reply to queries on one of the criteria in the nomination form. Thus, the delegation would be in favour of this option or a similar option being made available in the future.
- 68. The delegation of Tunisia congratulated the Chairperson on her election, commending her on her chairing of the deliberations. For Tunisia, all forms of intangible cultural heritage were of great importance, which constituted a large part of the Ministry of Culture's efforts. The Ministry had been working on developing a comprehensive inventory, but a lot of the work was carried out at the ground level. Hence, the need to strengthen civil society organizations and to provide support for NGOinitiatives. In this regard, Tunisia had set up a national centre for intangible cultural heritage, as well as regional centres that enabled authorities to provide support to local initiatives in this field. Work was carried out with this entire network in order to strengthen the implementation of the Convention. The delegation welcomed dialogue, though governed by very clear rules. The adoption of a dialogue mechanism would hopefully be accelerated and the informal ad hoc working group would be able to press on with its efforts. The delegation thanked Algeria and the Philippines for their work, and the ad hoc working group for its report. Tunisia also thanked UNESCO for all its achievements, especially in the capacity-building programme, not least because Tunisia had benefitted from this programme and the series of workshops organized in the country had been very productive.
- 69. The delegation of the Philippines thanked Mr Byong-hyun Lee for the report of the 2017 ad hoc working group, adding that it attached importance to the concept of dialogue between nominating States Parties and the Evaluation Body, enshrined as one of the purposes of the Representative List in Article 16 of the Convention. While noting the views of the Evaluation Body and the Secretariat on this issue and the subsequent discussions and decision of the Committee in Jeju, the delegation believed that the initial proposal of the ad hoc working group in 2017 - put on hold until 2019 - was a good basis for consideration. It reiterated the need for procedures to take into account the opinions of States Parties as the main custodians and duty bearers of the Convention. From a practical perspective, dialogue can enhance mutual understanding between nominating States Parties and the Evaluation Body. As this Convention has no in situ visits or missions for evaluation purposes, there was all the more reason to form a useful dialogue so as to create mutual respect and confidence in the process among all stakeholders. Hence, the delegation remained supportive of initiating a limited dialogue process on an experimental basis, beginning in 2020. The call for dialogue also echoed reforms in other UNESCO Conventions and programmes. As mentioned by Mr Byong-hyun Lee, the Philippines and Algeria co-chaired the informal ad hoc working group, and it wished to thank the Chair of the Committee, Minister of Arts and Culture from Mauritius, for his trust. The delegation also thanked the other delegations for their kind words and support. The working group in 2018 was open to all interested States Parties to encourage the broad participation of States Parties. One more meeting was scheduled in