9 culture news headlines from 6 countries in February
Armenia
Armenia’s ministry of culture reported about 2015. News.am quotes Hasmik Pogosyan, Armenia’s minister of culture, saying that in 2015 the ministry supported the release of 17 films, 2 ballet and 7 theater plays. The government introduced a bill on the use and protection of history monuments and cultural environment. The ministry also conducted numerous events dedicated to 100 anniversary of Armenian genocide. Besides, the country supported numerous festivals and culture days. News.am
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of culture opened its representatives in Turkey and Russia. Gateway company became official representative of Azerbaijan’s ministry of culture and tourism in Turkey, Abc.az reported. The representative aims at promoting Azerbaijan’s culture and tourism, the ministry’s press release wrote. Besides Turkey, the ministry has its representatives in United Arab Emirates and Germany. On 24 February similar representative was opened in Russia. Abc.az
Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation will visit Baku on 5-6 March. Taleb D.Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will participate in a meeting of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne Think Tank. Taleb D.Rifai is also scheduled to meet Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijan’s culture and tourism minister. The Forum was established in 2009 as the only global platform where representatives of public and private sectors can work together on a new vision of the future sustainable tourism, travel and hospitality. 1news.az
Belarus
Belarus ministry of culture signed action plan with Belarus Orthodox Church. In the framework of Culture Year, Belarus ministry of culture and the country’s Orthodox Church signed a comprehensive action plan. The document listed 62 joint activities including international and national festivals, contests, seminars and conferences. The plan also foresees development of cooperation between the church and the state for the period until 2021. Patriarchia.ru
Culture links Belarus and Chinese people, ambassador. Speaking at the Chinese Spring Festival hosted by Minsk on 24-26 February, Chinese ambassador to Belarus stressed the role of culture in keeping contacts between two nations. Belarus deputy minister of culture, in his turn, underlined that culture cooperation between two countries increases. He also that China will host Belarus Culture Days this year. Belta.by
Georgia
Georgia marked 95 anniversary of Soviet occupation. On 25 February, Georgia marked 95th anniversary of the country’s Soviet occupation. State flags were lowered while authorities laid flowers to memorial of Georgian solders lost their lives fighting the Red Army on the outskirts of Tbilisi. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Georgia’s Prime Minister, noted that the current sovereign pro-European Georgia exists thanks to those brave Georgian soldiers and volunteers. The opposition political force, however, accused Georgia’s government of attempting to reconsider Georgia’s pro-Western policy. Voice of Amerika
Moldova
Moldova hosts 50th music festival Mărțișor. This year on 1 March Moldova hosts the 50th international music festival Mărțișor. The festival includes 45 concerts of musicians from Italy, Japan, China, Russia, Lithuania, Romania, the US, Ireland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Moldova. The concert plays music in different styles: jazz, classic, opera, folk, pop etc. Newsmaker.md
Ukraine
Team Leader of EaP Culture and Creativity programme explored role of culture during military conflict. In his interview to Platfor.ma Tim Williams, Team Leader of the EaP Culture and Creativity programme, encouraged Ukrainians to invest more efforts in culture development during the ongoing military conflict in eastern Ukraine. He noted that culture would help Ukrainians to reflex themselves to overcome the outcomes of the conflict and to define the future development of the country. According to Williams, Ukrainian culture is rich and diverse but still unknown for wider Europe. He, moreover, encouraged representatives of civil society sector and the state to increase cooperation aimed at reaching common goals. Platfor.ma
Experts presented the strategic vision of Ukrainian culture development until 2025. On 22 February, experts from Nestor Group and Culture Alliance presented their vision of Ukrainian culture development in the future. The strategy provided answers on how culture could help Ukraine to overcome security threats and to integrate into global context. The vision also shows how values are being changed in Ukraine. The strategy was developed by more than 700 professionals during 2014-2016 in line with methodology recommended by the EU. The document contains long-term perspective of Ukrainian culture development until 2025. Ukrainska Pravda Zhyttia
