SiM Culture Days open in Russia

Serbian and Montenegrin Culture Days are opening in Russia today. A series of culture events will be held in Moscow, St Petersburg and some cities in the Vladimir region, neighbouring the Moscow region, till November 30. Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoi said it was a return visit by Serbian and Montenegrin men in the arts. SiM hosted Russian Culture Days last year.

"We are happy that Serbia and Montenegro are holding Culture Days in Russia together. Relations between our nations have been above political situations of any kind," said the minister.

He reported on a bilateral programme of cultural co-operation for the next 3 years that will be signed before November 30. The programme envisages "constant exchanges and co-operation in all the areas of culture, ranging from education to film-making." Mr Shvydkoi described bilateral co-operation in cinematography as very important. This is not only because former Yugoslavia is home to gifted film directors and actors, he said. Moscow is seeking to show Russian pictures on the SiM market and is eager to re-open the Russian market for films made in the Balkans.

The programme puts an emphasis on the 60th anniversary of the victory in World War II. This war is "our common tragedy and our common victory," said the Russian minister.

The Culture Days events include film shows, an exhibition of a famed Montenegrin photographer, concerts by a chamber stringed orchestra, a folk music group and several vocal bands.