At the beginning of 1996 the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs established an ad hoc committee on cultural relations consisting oi 14 prominent individuals from the cultural, economic and political sectors.

Germany has concluded cultural agreements with 96 countries and also has intensive cultural exchanges

The largest contributors to the United Nations in 1996

Country Financial commitment Share of the (in US$ million)* budget (%)*
United States 321 25.0
Ja Pan 168 15.4
Germany 98 9.0
France 70 6.4
United Kingdom 58 5.3
‘talV 57 5.2
Russia 48 45
Unada 34 31
pain 26 2.4

with most other countries. Translating cultural policy into practice is largely the responsibility of organizations acting on behalf of the Federal Government. The most important of these are: