Council of Europe's Director General of DG Democracy Snežana Samardžić-Marković visits Belarus for first time

20 апреля 2018

Snežana Samardžić-Marković – the Council of Europe's Director General of DG Democracy – has visited Belarus for the first time. The Director General met with the rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus – Marat Zhilinsky. The discussion focused on the participation of Belarus in the Bologna process and cooperation in other areas. A round table with representatives of ministries and departments, universities and cultural funds of Belarus was also held.

Snežana Samardžić-Marković noted that the European Cultural Convention includes 50 countries, and it is a bridge that connects the most diverse national cultures in all their diversity. The document emphasizes the preservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage of each individual country and celebrates the European identity that is common for its countries. The key priorities of the convention are culture, education, youth, and sports.

Together with the representatives of the authorities of Belarus, the Council of Europe is now discussing the prospects for further dialogue in all these areas, and this is a dialogue that has been established and has been functioning for 25 years.

The European Cultural Convention was adopted in 1954 in Paris to develop mutual understanding between the peoples of Europe. Belarus joined the Convention 25 years ago.