Morocco and Serbia have developed strong cooperation in different fields of culture: cultural heritage, archives, arts, music, choreography and visual arts
Cooperation between Morocco and Serbia flourishes more with every passing day. The two countries have understood the importance of building cultural bridges to bring people, and therefore countries, together.
As of today, Morocco and Serbia have developed strong cooperation in different fields of culture: cultural heritage, archives, arts, music, choreography and visual arts.
Increasing the axis of this cooperation and partnership provides a strong basis to create synergy between the different stakeholders.
Morocco and Serbia enjoy strong bilateral relations; the assessment of the celebration commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is more than positive. In the field of culture, Serbia has become an important partner, especially when it comes to exchanging expertise between institutions, but also through increasing participation in cultural events and happenings organised by both countries.
It is a known fact that cultural diplomacy is an important vector, as it provides an opportunity for countries to showcase the richness of their culture on the international stage, and allows peoples to be brought together. It conquers the heart of every country: its citizens.
Apart from cooperation in other important fields, Morocco and Serbia have placed cultural cooperation under the spotlight, which has played a major role in strengthening relations between the two countries and enhancing our longstanding friendship.
The organisation of Moroccan events in Serbia, such as the Moroccan Film Festival at the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives and the Forum of Moroccan Artisans in Novi Sad, as well as participation in the Belgrade Book Fair, allows Morocco to share and make known its culture on a different horizon, providing a chance to share experiences and visions. It also provides an opportunity for the people to discover what both countries have in common, be that through literature, film or even music, as art and culture are universal languages.
The organisation of Moroccan events in Serbia, such as the Moroccan Film Festival at the Yugoslav Cinematheque Film Archives and the Forum of Moroccan Artisans in Novi Sad, as well as participation in the Belgrade Book Fair, allows Morocco to share and make known its culture on a different horizon, providing a chance to share experiences and visions
As Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, it is my belief that it is very important to offer different cultural and artistic programmes to the Moroccan youth, as an opportunity for them to showcase their own creativity and innovative minds. Whether at a national or international level, we have to continuously encourage them to participate in such programmes and events.
The Ministry has a large network of youth centres (Maisons de jeunes) nationwide across Morocco. This infrastructure has been made to hold different activities related to education, the arts or even sport. This entails many young Moroccans being part of this large network and having direct access to these activities. The role of these youth centres is to develop talents, offer fun experiences and shape these young people in becoming responsible and well-balanced adults. The ministry can take advantage of this landscape to promote the youth’s participation in local, national and international events, in order to offer different perspectives and horizons to boost their sense of creativity and innovation.
On another hand, Morocco and Serbia have to jointly create youth exchange programmes, to help increase their openness to the world. Through these cultural programmes, targeting different artistic and cultural fields, both countries will offer diverse experiences open to the youth of both countries.
In this regard, I am looking forward to next year receiving my Serbian counterpart, Mrs. Maja Gojković, in Rabat, to discuss ways and means to reinforce our cooperation in cultural fields, such as the protection of cultural heritage and the cinematography industry. The Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Morocco share a longstanding friendship and I am sure that our relations will only grow closer in the future.