Skopje, 1 March 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska met Wednesday with Montenegro counterpart Maša Vlaović, discussing prior and future cultural cooperation and excellent relations within the region.

Ministers Kostadinovska-Stojchevska and Vlaović agreed that intensive and fruitful activities have resulted in numerous projects and initiatives, the Ministry of Culture said in a press release.

"We are satisfied from the close cooperation among institutions, individuals and culture associations, especially in the fields of literature and drama, but also summer festivals 'Ohrid Summer' and 'Kotor Art'. I am certain that today's signing of the new cooperation programme 2023-2025 will ensure even richer institutional cooperation, reciprocal use of institutional capacities, joint projects and initiatives," said Kostadinovska-Stojchevska.

Interlocutors also discussed the development of programmes for youth exchange in Europe and promotion of the countries' cultural traditions.

In this context, Kostadinovska-Stojchevska underlined the significance of the "Open Balkan" initiative, which offers big opportunities for enhancement of cooperation in the field of culture, expressing assurance that Montenegro would soon officially join this initiative.

The meeting also tackled the successful cooperation within the Forum of Slavic Cultures, the Southeast Europe Council of Culture Ministers, UNESCO and other international organizations, reads the press release.