Just one week in office, Culture Minister Andras Demeter meets with Moldovan counterpart

Romanian Minister of Culture Andras Demeter met on June 28 in Chisinau with his Moldovan counterpart Sergiu Prodan, with the moment marking a new impetus for Romanian-Moldovan cultural cooperation, the Culture Ministry said in a release.

The visit, which takes place in the very first week of Andras Demeter’s term in office, represents a clear signal of the Romanian side’s will to strengthen the strategic partnership and cultural cooperation between the two sister states.

‘The event took place in an auspicious context for the relaunch of bilateral cultural dialogue, and was marked by a warm atmosphere, mutual trust and a shared desire to build a common cultural space, based on Romanian identity values, respect for heritage and openness to innovation and contemporary artistic creation,’ the cited source said.

Andras Demeter reiterated the Romanian government’s firm commitment to concretely support the efforts of the Republic of Moldova in promoting and strengthening a living, diverse and accessible culture. Among the topics discussed were collaboration in the field of cultural heritage, the organization of joint visual and performing arts projects, supporting the publishing industry and the development of artistic mobility networks, the release also states.

Andras Demeter stressed that Romania considers culture a strategic element in building bilateral relations, along with education and language, that the bridges created through culture are the most durable and fertile, and that joint projects are the living proof of a fraternal bond between two states with a deeply connected cultural identity.

According to the Ministry of Culture, the meeting was also an occasion to express specific concerns coming from the editorial environment of the Republic of Moldova, related to the envisaged increase in the VAT rate applied to imported books, especially from Romania.

‘The Romanian Ministry of Culture understands and pays heed to these concerns, as free access to books and education is a fundamental right that must be protected through balanced public policies, and considers that any fiscal measure of this type must be carefully pondered upon through consultations with actors in the publishing and cultural industry, in order to avoid adverse effects on access to culture and education. Culture must not become the victim of hasty decisions, but needs constant support as an engine of sustainable development, unity and social peace,’ the release notes. AGERPRES (RO – writing by: Catalin Alexandru; EN – writing by: Simona Klodnischi)