Document of the Cracow Symposium on the Cultural Heritage of the CSCE Participating States Cracow 1991 (…) The participating States express their deeply held conviction that they share common values forged by history and based, inter alia, on respect for the individual, freedom of conscience, religion or belief, freedom of expression, recognition of the importance of spiritual and cultural values, commitment to the rule of law, tolerance and openness to dialogue with other cultures. They take note of the interrelationship between cultural life and the well-being of their peoples, and the special importance that this has for democratic countries in transition towards a market economy. They encourage support, as already undertaken, and the ongoing assistance to those countries in preserving and protecting their cultural heritage. The participating States respect the irreplaceable uniqueness of all their cultures and will endeavour to promote continued cultural dialogue among themselves and with the rest of the world. They reaffirm their belief that respect for cultural diversity promotes understanding and tolerance among individuals and groups. They consider that the regional aspects of culture should in themselves constitute a factor in the understanding between peoples. Regional cultural diversity is an expression of the richness of the common cultural identity of the participating States. Its preservation and protection contribute to building a democratic, peaceful and united Europe. 79