Skopje, 3 June 2022 (MIA) – We reached an agreement at the panel discussions with Department of State representatives to continue the mutual activities towards protecting the cultural heritage of North Macedonia, said Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska after the conclusion of the US-North Macedonia Strategic Dialogue, held in the State Department in Washington DC. The fact that four ministers from North Macedonia attended the Strategic Dialogue, which aims to find new ways of cooperation for the two countries, was praised at a panel attended by the State Department envoy on the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, the Culture Ministry said. Kevin Saba, who is in charge of education and culture, and Eric Catalfamo, director of the Center for Cultural Heritage at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Relations, as well as Lisa Magno of USAID, were also in attendance. “We affirmed the results achieved with the investments from the grants awarded by the US Ambassadors Fund. We continue to work in a committed way to improve the cooperation of our two countries,” added Kostadinovska-Stojcevska. According to the Minister, the Strategic Dialogue opens opportunities and ways for future cooperation in culture and finding mechanisms for greater involvement of young people in the cultural and social flows of the country, their affirmation and support, said the press release. Within the Strategic Dialogue, several sessions were held at which the delegations of North Macedonia and the United States opened topics of interest for cooperation between the two countries, included in a joint declaration. The Ministry of Culture said that the strategic dialogue between North Macedonia and the United States is an upgrade of the strategic partnership between the two countries and it opens a new chapter in bilateral relations, as well as concrete framing and definition of cooperation in the coming period. dk/ba/