CULTURAL HERITAGE: - Macedonian Information Centre

2 - lidija toPuzovSka
for the cultural specifics and values of the cultural heritage (the material,
as well as the spiritual) to create conditions for a sustainable economic
development. The ministers of culture of the countries of South-East
Europe, Italy, and the UNESCO representatives agreed that this kind
of conferences presents an extraordinary contribution to the spirit of
reinforced cooperation and promotion of regional cultural heritage on the
level of partnership among all the participant countries in the Conference.
It was agreed to hold the next, the Fourth Ministerial Conference, in
Croatia in 2007.
At the end of the discussion, the ministers signed a joint
Declaration.
The Ohrid Declaration represents a possibility for reaffirmation of
the strong will to preserve the wealth and variety of the cultural riches
in the Region and to promote it as a wealth belonging to the entire
world. The accent in the document was placed on training, education,
and communications, particularly among the young that will have a
fundamental role in the preservation of the cultural heritage.
Following the signing of the Declaration, Minister of Culture Mr.
Bekiri, the host, addressed all the participants emphasizing that this
Conference is one of the most important events in South-East Europe
because it shows the willingness of all the countries in the Region to
continue with the cooperation in the frameworks of the UNESCO, the
European Union, the Council of Europe, and in general, as neighboring
countries with common needs. The affirmation and respect for the
different cultural identities through jointly coordinated projects will be
the planning of a high, good quality development policy of a continual
mutual dialogue. The Minister expressed his belief that the Declaration
adopted in Ohrid would be another bridge for a common promising
future, a bridge for continuing the DIALOGUE, the mutual confidence,
and cooperation in which the cultural heritage would have a big role
in creating a better and more humane world. He emphasized that they
would do their best to make the Republic of Macedonia a part of this
world.
After signing the Ohrid Declaration, a cultural program was
organized with the participation of Gordana Josifova-Nedelkovska, oboe,
accompanies by piano player Tatjana Ognanovska, and the “Synthesis”
Group. The greatest attention was attracted by the Ensemble “Tanec”,
performing folk dances and songs, which performed the Macedonian
traditional dance “Teskoto”, which was the Macedonian candidate for a
master piece of spiritual cultural heritage of humanity at the UNESCO
Third Festival.
Aside from the plenary session and the round table of the ministers
of culture, meetings of the International Working Group were held