Ambassador Jan Eliasson

Paideia, Uppsala, August 16, 2011

I am honoured to be invited to speak at the 10th anniversary of Paideia- its 10 year birthday (which is still childhood, soon entering adolescence and with a long life ahead of you!)

I was a modest part of the creation of Paideia in 2001, representing the Swedish Government at the time as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. I was working closely with Prime Minister Gran Persson and Deputy Prime Minister Lena Hjelm-Walln. My counterparts from the Jewish Community were Lena Posner-Krsi, Gabriel Urwitz and Barbara Spectre, later to become my friends.

The background for the initiative was Nazi Gold which had found its way to Sweden during the War, during the Holocaust. How could Sweden we asked ourselves demonstrate regret, indeed revulsion, over this shameful traffic and at the same time send the message that Jewish culture was and must be an indispensable part of European history, identity and culture?

A sum of money was set aside, 40 million Swedish crowns. Discussion about other uses of these funds evolved inside the Jewish Communities in Sweden, e.g. for Holocaust survivors in Swedish old-age homes. The Swedish Government felt that the contribution should be an act of respect and solidarity but also be forward-looking, aiming at the future. With this background, support to Paideia was given priority. We were also at

2 that time encouraged by the World Jewish Congress which pledged a similar amount. I regret that this commitment was not fulfilled.

Still, Paideia was created through parallel decisions by the Swedish Government and the Swedish Council of Jewish Communities in 2001. Paideia was

1. To nurture the renewal of European Jewish culture

2. To support cross-cultural dialogue, and

3. To promote minority culture within European Societies.

, Cornerstones in Paideias work were to be resistance towards dogma as well as inclusiveness and dialogue between minority and majority cultures in Europe.

I have had the joy and privilege to meet with at least half of the Alumni of Paideia during the last 10 years - regretfully not all, because of postings as Swedish Ambassador to Washington, D.C. , as President of the UN General Assembly and because of my mediation work in the Darfur conflict. These encounters have been a great inspiration for me with exciting interaction with remarkable groups of students. I am glad to again meet many of them here today in Uppsala older and wiser (and I speak about them, not myself!). I want to give a special tribute to Barbara Spectre, untiring energizer and champion of Paideia, not least in promoting academic recognition of its courses.

3 **** In todays Europe, Paideia is more important than ever. Globalization is basically positive and beneficial for our continent. However, there are reactions among many that it is evolving too fast. The outside world, otherness and foreign cultural or religious influences are by many seen as problems and perils not as possibilities and potential for positive change. In such a political climate, xenophobic and racist forces are sadly thriving, fishing in murky waters. We are seeing deeply worrying expressions of antisemitism, islamophobia and anti-Roma attitudes in many parts of Europe.

This is particularly evident in the debate on and in the realities of migration and integration of immigrants into European communities. The anti-immigration message has brought right-wing populist representatives into European parliaments in alarming numbers. It is now important for mainstream political parties not to move in their direction. Instead they have to take active part in the debate, confront the problems and stand up for human dignity and respect for human rights.

The recent horrors of the bombings in Oslo and the slaughter of almost 70 future leaders of the Norwegian Labour party are reminders of the fanaticism of right-wing terrorism. But it is also a warning sign of the frightening climate which can develop in extremist groups full of hatred toward other cultures and religions.

The best we now can do for those who died in Norway is to stand up for everything the perpetrator and his followers wanted to prevent democracy, openness and tolerance.

4 At the same time we have to be vigilant and realistically aware of the dangerous forces at work.

To me the challenge for Europe is threefold. We have to accept

1. the centrality of identity

2. the power of diversity, and

3. the necessity of combining identity with diversity.

Identity is a complex and multi-faceted term. The word identity is to my mind more appropriate in plural. The richness of identities is a great asset and attribute to Europe and European culture. Therefore, the loss, or degradation, of one identity must be regarded as a loss and defeat for the whole, majorities as well as minorities. That is why the renewal and restoration of Jewish identity and culture in Europe after Holocaust is a historic mission for all nations and people in Europe. And that is why Paideia is such a powerful and necessary concept and project and such a living reality at our hands.

That is also why Paideia should be even better known and promulgated in the wider European and international perspective. Its message is not only about the power of knowledge, knowledge of the roots and texts of Jewish culture. It is also as was stated at Paideias inception about supporting cross-cultural dialogue and promoting minority cultures.

5 What can be more important in Europe today? Fear about change and fear of the unknown is widespread. Minorities are being demonized. Identity is used as a rallying cry to exclude, not include, and to mobilize against others not to join and combine forces. That is why identity and diversity must be complementary and not contradictory. The mutual respect for cultural identity is, in fact, the pre-condition and basis for diversity.

With my background in diplomacy, I would like to suggest that the Alumni of Paideia and, in fact all of you at this conference serve as ambassadors of respect for identity as well as of diversity. This would serve Europe well in these troubled times. We are at crucial cross-roads, everybodys equal value is being questioned and principles will have to challenge expediency. Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something. Standing up for Paideias values is a task for all of us.