Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska held Monday a meeting with US Ambassador Jess Baily where it was concluded that the two countries were fostering excellent cultural ties, including many projects from all areas of culture.

Kanceska-Milevska thanked for the significant assistance provided by the US Embassy through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, which supports the preservation of cultural heritage, saying she hoped that the Macedonian-American partnership would “keep on serving as an inspirational example for successful cooperation in favour of culture and its values,” the Ministry of Culture said in a press release.

Since 2001, she noted, over one million dollars have been singled out from the Ambassadors Fund to carry out 12 projects aimed at conserving and restoring important cultural landmarks in Macedonia.

Cooperation between cultural institutions in the two countries plays a significant role in affirming American culture in Macedonia and promoting Macedonian cultural values on the American continent, it was stressed.

Moreover, the interlocutors welcomed the years-long functioning of the American Corners in Skopje, Bitola and Tetovo, also mentioning that the countries were heightening their cooperation in cinematography. Namely, many Macedonian films have been recently presented at US festivals as several projects have been also co-produced by film companies in the US.

Kanceska-Milevska said that international cooperation was on the top of priorities of the Culture Ministry. Recently, Macedonia’s cultural values have been presented in the United States through numerous activities, including the Days of Macedonian Culture in the US, presentation of cultural, archaeological and tourist values and the presentation of Macedonian artists at the Macedonian Cultural Center in New York.