Skopje, 23 September 2024 (MIA) – The excellent relations between North Macedonia and Croatia in terms of foreign policy, as part of the regional cooperation, the EU and NATO are also reflected in the traditionally good cooperation in culture, agreed Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov and Croatian Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek during Monday’s bilateral meeting in Zagreb.

As reported by the Ministry of Culture, gratitude was expressed at the meeting for Croatia's support and willingness to share experiences and positive practices from the EU accession process. Minister Obuljen Koržinek emphasized that Croatia remains a vocal supporter for our country's European integration path, while Ljutkov noted that the recent visit of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to this friendly country provides an additional impetus for deepening relations.

Ljutkov briefed his Croatian counterpart on the significance of the Macedonian Cultural Information Center in Zagreb and introduced the new director, Mimi Gjorgoska-Ilievska, who has many years of experience in the field of culture. He noted that the Center has great potential for expanding cultural cooperation as well as for promoting natural resources of our country, and for broadening its responsibilities in education and science.

During the meeting, numerous examples of institutional collaboration in culture across all areas of the arts were highlighted. Minister Obuljen Koržinek particularly emphasized the successful co-production film projects between the two countries, as well as the translations of works by renowned Macedonian and Croatian authors into both languages. She expressed particular satisfaction with the presence of Macedonian theater creators in Croatia, who are achieving remarkable success, according to the press release.

The ministers shared experiences regarding the development of creative industries, with Minister Ljutkov expressing readiness to adopt good Croatian practices, noting that this sector is a priority for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and that increased budgetary resources will be allocated for it.

Ljutkov and Obuljen Koržinek also discussed future steps regarding multilateral initiatives, welcoming the reactivation of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe (CoMoCoSEE), within which meetings will be held at both expert and ministerial levels. They discussed activities, specifically the organization and narrative of the museum exhibition in connection with the continuation of the project to open the former Yugoslav Pavilion in Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum, coordinated by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, located in Venice, Italy.

As reported by the Ministry, Ljutkov invited Nina Obuljen Koržinek to visit the country during the Regional Union of Theatres (RUTA) festival in Skopje.