Επιστολή φορέων Κρήτης προς την ΟΥΝΕΣΚΟ

To: Mrs. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO

Cc: Mrs. Aikaterini Tzitzikosta, President of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO

List of recipients Attached

Subject:«On the issue of the so called ‘Mediterranean Diet’, before a final decision is taken»

Dear Madam,

As representatives of educational, cultural, social and production enterprises of Crete, we would like to express our views on the issue of the so called ‘Mediterranean Diet’, before a final decision is taken for its recognition as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

It is certainly a positive fact that UNESCO, an organization with a universal mission and varied achievements, plans to consider this very important issue of the human diet. Nevertheless, it is the first time an intangible asset exceeds local boundaries, considered an essential cultural principle, and extends to a wide geographical area.

Undoubtedly, there are similarities among the food products of the Mediterranean countries. However this is not enough to justify the adoption of a generalizing ‘Mediterranean’ term. There is no common dietary culture, only common products. Besides, the diet of a population group is based much more on its cultural, social, economic and religious characteristics and a lot less on local products. You may already know that olive oil, a Mediterranean product of high nutritional value, is consumed in large amounts on Crete and some other Greek areas, while in other areas of mainland Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean countries, it was not well known, let alone widely consumed, until fairly recently. It is indeed a fact that the Mediterranean is a vast area that has based its historical course on the co-existence of different religions, diverse cultures and varied characteristics.

If the ‘Mediterranean diet’ were accepted as a valid term, then why not the ‘Balkan diet’. In this geographic unity there are a lot of common products, but there are also important differences in the procedures of harvesting and processing, in the composition and consumption of food, as well as in the traditions and customs related to the diet.

With all due respect to UNESCO’s mission and objectives, let us express our objection to this generalization. The term ‘Mediterranean diet’ originated from medical studies carried out after World War II. The earliest and most important one was performed by the American Ansel Keys and included seven countries throughout the world, among which were three Mediterranean countries. Later the term ‘Mediterranean diet’ obtained a commercial character and collectively included all the countries bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. As well known, the conditions under which UNESCO identifies and recognizes the intangible resources are primarily cultural. They are not medical and they are definitely not commercial. Consequently, no one ever thought of recommending the recognition of the Mediterranean dances, the Mediterranean songs or the Mediterranean religious rituals as intangible world cultural heritage. Such a recommendation was probably never made because the above have no commercial value.

In the Mediterranean, as in many other regions of the world, there are interesting eating habits, adequate for creating social and cultural models. These are in danger today because of the rapid changes occurring globally, primarily the decline of the oral culture which has supported the traditional dietary systems of the historical societies for centuries.

It would be interesting if each one Mediterranean region could document its own dietary culture with its special characteristics (e.g. the Cretan Diet and others). We think that in this way the validity of relevant decisions would be ensured but also the basic feature of Civilization would be safeguarded: Diversity, on a basis of equality and mutual respect.

With respect