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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Culture key connecting factor in the Balkans

Belgrade, 15 March 2008

Head of the sector for international cooperation and European integration at the Serbian Ministry of Culture Borislav Sutic said today that it was concluded at the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe that it is necessary to establish cultural cooperation in South East Europe.

In a statement to the news agency Beta, Sutic said that it was jointly stated at the meeting of the council held yesterday in Zagreb that culture is the key connecting factor in the Balkans.

The culture ministers also stressed that it is necessary and constructive to continue with participation in cultural cooperation projects, such as the Regional Program for Cultural and Natural Heritage of South East Europe which is being led by the Council of Europe and the European Commission, said Sutic, who is also a coordinator in the council.

He recalled that on February 7, Serbia accepted to participate in the EU Culture Programme (2007-2013), and within the framework of this programme joint regional teams will be formed.

According to Sutic, the Council of Ministers of Culture was formed three years ago, based on the model of the Nordic Council, with a rotating presidency, and yesterday Greece took over the presidency from Croatia.

Sutic said that he expects that several conferences will be held in Athens this year, of which those regarding river navigation and international rivers, especially the Danube, are of particular interest to Serbia.

Ministers of culture adopted a declaration on cultural cooperation at the meeting in Zagreb, which affirms the strengthening of intercultural dialogue and regional cultural cooperation.

The meeting was attended by ministers of culture of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey. Delegations of Slovenia, Austria, Italy, the European Commission and the Council of Europe attended the meeting as observers.