In her speech, she recalled the words of the Macedonian revolutionary Goce Delchev, who envisioned the world as a field for cultural, not military, competition among nations. “I wonder,” said Siljanovska-Davkova, “was Goce Delchev announcing the birth of Macedonian cultural diplomacy?”
“As a Member of Parliament, I participated in the first Forum on Cultural Diplomacy. I am pleased to be the host today. It is time for culture to receive its rightful place in diplomacy — precisely what you are all doing,” Siljanovska-Davkova concluded.
The former President of Macedonia, Prof. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, emphasized that culture builds bridges, not walls. “It is time,” Ivanov stressed, “to overcome the mentality that small states are powerless and to network through multilateral and regional institutions.”
The speakers, including the former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus and senior Italian expert Rosetta Epifani, shared their professional insights on the topic.
“The United Nations General Assembly is the only platform where small states are equal to large ones,” highlighted Volkan Bozkir, former President of the UN General Assembly, underlining the importance of this institution.
In his speech, Henry Jones, advisor to the Secretary of State of Arkansas, emphasized the importance of culture and identity, especially for small states.
Following the official addresses, an open debate allowed for interaction between the speakers and participants, encouraging the exchange of ideas and innovative approaches for the future.
This session highlighted the importance of joint action by small states as a key factor in achieving global peace, stability, and development.
