The International Network for Cultural Diversity reports that the UNESCO Executive Board has received a consolidated draft text of the proposed Convention on the protection of the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions. According to the latest INCD Newsletter, UNESCO’s Director General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, presented the draft Convention text to the organisations Executive Board on April 21. At the meeting in February, , was directed to prepare a text that would bring together all of the elements of the discussion along with recommendations for moving forward. The draft was prepared at a meeting of the Bureau of Intergovernmental Committee in Cape Town. Members present included Committee Chairman Dr. Kadar Asmal; Jukka Liede of Finland, Chair of the Drafting Committee; Artur Wilczynski of Canada, Rapporteur of the Committee; Mounir Bouchenaki, UNESCO’s Assistant Director General for Culture; and Katerina Stenou, Director of the Division of Cultural Policies and Inter-Cultural Dialogue. INCD representatives have called the Chairman’s Draft 'a significant milestone' in the process of developing a workable Convention. The new draft is available as Appendix II of the following report The INCD has advised that it will prepare an analysis of the document prior to the next Intergovernmental meeting, scheduled for May 25 in Paris. Visit the International Network for Cultural Diversity online at: www.incd.net