Skopje, 6 December 2024 (MIA) - At Friday's meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe - Enhancing Culture for Sustainable Development (CoMoCoSEE), which was held in Herceg Novi, and during which the country officially took over from Montenegro the presidency of this body, Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov said he has great expectations from regional cooperation, which he believes will deepen and intensify next year. 

North Macedonia will hold the presidency of CoMoCoSEE for a period of one year. 

"I believe that in the year when we mark the 20th anniversary since the signing of the Charter of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe, we will manage to complete negotiations over establishment of a Fund for Cultural Cooperation, which we agree will represent yet another mechanism for strengthening regional connectivity through new ideas and solutions, which will make a significant contribution to ensuring the sure progress of culture," said Ljutkov. 

Earlier on Friday, the Ministers of Culture and the heads of delegations of the member states discussed enhancing cooperation in culture and art for sustainable development at a time when the world is facing major challenges, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said in a press release. 

In the year that marks a decade since the adoption of the Ohrid Regional Strategy for Cultural Cooperation in South East Europe, commenting on the significance of the meeting, Ljutkov highlighted the role of culture in global processes, pointing to the need to promote cooperation and create new opportunities through integrating it in the educational systems.

"At a time when the world is facing major challenges, there is a need for all of us to work towards creating sustainable and inclusive societies where culture will play a key role in global processes. We are aware of the role of culture in mutual understanding, how small the differences and how great the similarities are between us, and all this together creates space for new possibilities. Therefore, our commitment and responsibility as culture ministers should be in the direction of the integration of culture in educational systems, i.e. to create educational programs that will not only promote cultural values, but encourage young people to be consumers of culture, as well as its active creators and promoters," Ljutkov said. 

The Minister noted that education for culture and art for sustainable development is gaining more and more importance in the country, especially through the integration of artistic and cultural activities in various initiatives, programs and projects.

"We are committed to creating new opportunities for young people, encouraging innovation and integration of cultural values ​​in education. In that context, I would like to highlight the Ministry's open calls to support professional development in the field of culture, by which we stimulate young people and contribute to their education in areas that are of particular importance for culture and art," Ljutkov pointed out. 

He added that with the support of the Ministry, the institutions in the field of culture continuously organize educational projects to raise awareness of the importance of culture and art, and the accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities and marginalized groups to the programs and contents in the institutions has improved. 

At the meeting in Montenegro, the Ministers of Culture and high representatives of SEE countries also adopted the Herceg Novi Declaration. 

Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism