Skopje, 25 November 2022 (MIA) - The new premises of the Bulgarian Cultural and Information Centre (CIC) in Skopje opened on Friday with a joint exhibition of artists from North Macedonia and Bulgaria titled "Together", in the attendance of Ministers of Culture of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska and Velislav Minekov respectively. Bulgarian Minister Minekov said at the ceremony that Bulgaria pays particular attention to the cultural relations with its partners from the Western Balkans and attaches particular importance to the development of cooperation with the Republic of North Macedonia. He added that according to the renewed program for cooperation in the field of culture between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia 2022-2025 on strengthening the cultural partnership, funds are provided for joint cultural projects, which will be presented in both countries. “The fact that the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria, with the help of the Bulgarian Cultural and Information Centre, is creating conditions for a joint cultural program, which is part of the joint cultural calendar between the two countries, is welcome," said Minekov and added that cooperation will be strengthened in the spheres of ballet, literature, sculpture, fine art, music etc. He emphasized that culture is the bridge through which "we all have the opportunity to get even closer and work side by side to achieve common goals." and added this is an opportunity for further development of cultural diplomacy between the two countries. Kostadinovska-Stojchevska told the audience that she wishes to to infuse new energy into the Macedonian-Bulgarian cultural relations in the new premises of the Bulgarian CIC in Skopje and ignite the passion for artistic creativity as a field for cultural progress, in which culture is the winner. “The Bulgarian CIC in Skopje and the Macedonian one in Sofia have the goal to connect us, to educate us about each other and, through culture, bring us closer as peoples and as friends, and in the name of that friendship, open wide the gates of culture," said the Culture Minister. Bulgarian CIC Director Antonija Veleva emphasized that the presence of Bulgarian and Macedonian representatives at the opening of the new premises is important to show that culture is important for the two societies and is the sector of bilateral relations between the two countries that brings them closer together. “This center and this gallery in which we are currently located, and the open gallery that we have at our disposal represent an opportunity to present a large number of joint cultural projects of artists from both countries. It is our desire that the CIC of the Republic of Bulgaria here in Skopje be one of the institutions supported by the two ministries of culture, enabling closer cooperation and acquainting representatives from the cultural circles of the two countries," she added. She also informed that the Bulgarian CIC, together with the CIC of North Macedonia in Sofia, plan to implement a joint project, which will take place at the end of this year and the beginning of the next, aimed at presenting young musicians from both countries. Bulgarian ambassador to North Macedonia, Angel Angelov, said the task of the diplomats of the two countries is to work on building bridges between the two countries, and the Bulgarian CIC, as he said, is a European bridge, through which greater rapprochement will be possible. dk/ik/