Participation of Mr. Zoltan Pek, Vice-Chairman of the PABSEC Cultural, Educational and Social Affairs Committee, in the Meeting of Ministers in charge of Culture of the BSEC Member States, Belgrade, 23 November 2018

Mr. Zoltan Pek, Vice-Chairman of the PABSEC Cultural, Educational and Social Affairs Committee and Member of the PABSEC Serbian Delegation participated in the Meeting of Ministers in charge of Culture of the BSEC Member States, in Belgrade, on 23 November 2018.

Mr. Vladan Vukosavljevic, Minister of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia and Chairperson of the Meeting, Mr. Sergei Goncharenko, Deputy Secretary General of the BSEC PERMIS and Mr. Zoltan Pek addressed the gathering at the Opening Ceremony.

The representatives of the BSEC Member States, the BSEC Observers and the BSEC Sectoral Dialogue Partners attended the meeting. The debate was focused on the promotion of cultural cooperation and protection of the cultural heritage in the BSEC Region. The participants delivered their statements on the on the theme “Promotion of Cultural Cooperation and Protection of the Cultural Heritage in the BSEC Region – Culture Diplomacy, a Tool for a Better World – (Re)shaping Cultural Diplomacy for a Stable and Secure World in The Black Sea Region” and discussed the agenda items.

In his intervention, Mr. Pek underlined that cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue, protection of cultural heritage have been discussed in several Reports and Recommendations and adopted by Assembly. Mr. Pek stressed that the variety of cultural identities and values of the BSEC region represents a key resource for enhancing political dialogue, developing economic co-operation and ensuring stability through mutual knowledge and appreciation of the countries’ cultural assets. Mr. Pek expressed his belief that cultural and creative sectors will continue to contribute substantially to the regional, social and economic development in the Black Sea Region.

During the meeting, there was a presentation of the Project proposal on the establishment of a “Black Sea Youth Symphony Orchestra.”

The Belgrade Declaration of Ministers in charge of Culture of the BSEC Member States was adopted at the end of the Meeting. The participants also adopted the Report of the Meeting to be presented in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the BSEC Member States, to be held in Baku, on 14 December 2018.