Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

1. Session / Séance. Experiences gained, current Situation, future Prospects / Expériences acquises, Situation actuelle, Perspectives futures - Körmendy, Lajos: International Cooperation in Europe. A Survey / Programmes de Coopération internationale des archives en Europe. Un bilan (english 13 - français 27)

1. Session/Séance: Körmendy, International archival Cooperation

of the 19th century, or Hungary, the majority of whose source-documents are to be found in neighbouring countries. The rules governing the availability of documents in a country can play a determining role with regard to research. Strict regulations have blocked research in the countries of Eastern Europe and in certain Western archives. It was frequently the case that archivists would limit their research abroad to older stock, knowing that 20th century documents were inaccessible.

We have already referred to those countries leading the fields in archivistics. If a country or archive service produces outstanding results in one or more of the areas covered by the profession (e. g. setting up a complete computerized retrieval system or creating a modern archive building) it will be at the centre of international attention, attracting visitors from the profession and being invited to play a role in international meetings dealing with the subject in question. All of this creates new international relationships. The human factor, i. e. the ability of archivsts to establish and follow up cooperative relationships with foreign colleagues is closely linked to the traditions and the professional conditions referred to above. This human factor depends on a whole nexus of conditions, three of which strike me as decisive.

The first is training. If students are able to acquaint themselves with foreign archival theory, well and good. But if they have the opportunity of acquainting themselves with foreign practice, or keeping up permanent contacts with their (future) colleagues, still better. The French reply to the questionnaire referred to the influence of the Stage Technique international d’archives: this technical training placement makes young French archivists aware of international realities and allows them to establish contacts with foreign colleagues.

The second is the way in which directors tackle the question of international relations. If there is no interest on the part of those who run a country’s archives, this attitude can paralyse any kind of international activity. Clearly, directors can also stimulate contacts, particularly by keeping up with and publishing international professional literature, facilitating study missions and work abroad, providing due recognition of foreign language ability, organizing international meetings, etc.

The third is the ability of archivists to follow up the results of international contacts at a practical level. If archivists find that suggestions which they put forward on the basis of international experience are ignored, or if documents discovered in foreign archives are not even microfilmed or published, all their efforts become meaningless and study missions abroad can easily become tourist trips.

Here, we should refer to the touristic aspect of international links. It does exist, and may be considered perfectly normal, providing that it does not become an end in itself. Heads of archives have a responsibility to demand work from their staff and to ensure that international work leads to practical results.

2. 2. 3. Other conditions

Political conditions directly influence international relations amongst archivists. This influence varies from country to country and is governed especially by the level

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