SOFIA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The 12 member states of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South East Europe (CoMoCoSEE) agreed here on Friday to launch a Cultural Cooperation Fund.
According to the declaration adopted by CoMoCoSEE's Fifth Ministerial Conference, the fund would be launched in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"Through the establishment of the fund, the SEE region shall invest additional resources and energy in the promotion of its culture, its cultural heritage, artistic creativity and innovation within the framework of regional diversity," the declaration said.
The aim of the fund would be the promotion of cultural cooperation, creativity and exchanges among the SEE countries and between them and the rest of the world, the declaration said.
According to the declaration, the fund shall be financed by voluntary contributions from the CoMoCoSEE member states. It would also explore funding opportunities under relevant international and regional programs in the field of culture, in particular European Union programs, as well as other potential donors, including from the private sector.
"By working together, we learn from each other, share good practices, share and promote our cultures," Boil Banov, minister of culture of Bulgaria, said at a press conference after the event.
"Together we become more visible on the world cultural map," Banov said.
The CoMoCoSEE was established in 2005. Its member states are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey.
