Skopje, 15 September 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, alongside Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Kaja Shukova, and the Foreign Ministry’s State Secretary Filip Tosevski, held a working meeting Thursday with the Secretary General of UNESCO’s National Commission for Education, Culture and Science within the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Alblihed, in Riyadh.

At the meeting, according to the Ministry of Culture, the interlocutors agreed that culture is the core of the identity of each country, and that which unites the nation and makes it recognizable globally. 

“They also touched upon the importance of international dialogue, cultural diplomacy and the commitment to preserving the culture and heritage for the generations to come. Opportunities for cultural exchange between the two countries were reviewed, as well as for cooperation with our joint partner – UNESCO. It was stressed that greater international cooperation and collective capacity building are necessary in the protection of world cultural heritage, as well as the commitment to the ‘green agenda’ in order to reach our shared vision for a global, sustainable development. Additionally, the great importance of the exchange of practices enabling balanced and sustainable management of tourism, while at the same time protecting the cultural heritage, was highlighted at the meeting,” said the Ministry of Culture.

The interlocutors agreed that both countries have something to offer to each other, especially in the field of cooperation in tourism, with the exchange of positive practices. The need to assess the opportunity to launch a procedure for the signing of a memorandum on cultural cooperation between the two countries and promotion of tourism was also underscored at the meeting.

“Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, together with the Macedonian delegation, expressed gratitude for the excellent organization of the 45th session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, which is being held in Riyadh. The Culture Minister also invited her colleague to visit North Macedonia, and its pearl – the Ohrid region,” said the press release.

Photo: Ministry of Culture