Belgrade hosts conference on cultural diversity

Belgrade, March.31- Respect and tolerance towards diversity has always been easier in the cultural field than in the political one. Belgrade hosted this weekend an international conference entitled “Cultural diversity and social cohesion in south eastern Europe.” Organizers included the European Parliament, the Felix Meritis foundation-Amsterdam, and Forum Beograd. Participants included important figure from politics and civil society and was addressed by both the Serbian President, Boris Tadic, and the Belgrade Mayor, Nenad Bogdanovic. The conference focused on the major topics such as: “regional cooperation in south eastern Europe, European responsibilities of cities and regions, culture as an economic sector, culture for structural development, civil society and political institutions, how south eastern Europe region and Europe contribute to each others, 50 years after the treaty of Rome: a new approach, etc. Discussants from the European Union structures as well important figures form the art and culture scene brought forward idea and proposals on how to enhance social cohesion and benefit from cultural diversity.