North Macedonian President Urges EU to Honor Cultural Principles

I tell my European friends, I also told [French President Emmanuel] Macron, if you say that the EU is a philosophy, and not only a machinery or an unfinished symphony without the Western Balkans, then I must remind you that there can be no philosophy without values and principles. These values and principles are embedded in your constitutive acts – that you will respect the cultural and national identity of every nation, the dignity and integrity of every person – this is the foundation of the EU. Otherwise, it would be just another association in search for power and influence in the world, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said in her address at the third Cultural Diplomacy Forum on Wednesday, CE Report quotes MIA.

The President stressed that culture is the most powerful resource of small nations. “Cultural diplomacy can help us transform society; cultural diplomacy builds bridges resistant to political spins, populism, manipulation and demagogy,” she said.

“There is no greater success for a country than to be respected and loved by people from other nations and creeds. Culture is the most powerful resource of small nations, there are no better investments than those in education, science, culture and sport, since there are no small and big nations in these fields. Small cultural environments such as the Macedonian, instead of growing wide, rise tall. This is the real future,” the President said.

Siljanovska-Davkova stressed that few in the world know the names of Macedonian politicians, but many have heard of “its unique 7/8 music signature, Chemerski’s masterpieces, Manchevski’s films, Tpchevski’s Makedonissimo...”.

President Siljanovska-Davkova addressed session 3 of the forum, entitled “Small States, Big Impact: Navigating Global Challenges through Collaborative Multilateralism and Cultural Diplomacy”.

Former President Gjorgje Ivanov, former President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus, former President of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkır, Senior Expert at Office of the Diplomatic Advisor, President of the Council of Ministers, Italy, Rosetta Epifani, and Chairman of COFR Technologies; Advisor to the Arkansas Secretary of State, USA, Henry Jones also participated in the debate.