Serbian Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković proposed the formation of a joint working group that would work to reach an agreement on the return of the negatives of the Lovćen film, consisting of representatives of the ministries and film libraries of Serbia and Montenegro, the Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) announced today.
"The group would prepare all necessary steps for the implementation of this initiative," Selaković said.
MKM announced that the key messages after the meeting between the Minister of Culture and Media of Montenegro, Tamara Vujović, and Selaković, which was held in Podgorica, were: Improving cooperation between the two countries in the field of culture, with a special focus on the education of personnel in the field of heritage, joint initiatives in the film market, taking over the negatives of feature films from Lovćen Film, and signing bilateral agreements.
The statement says that Vujović expressed her satisfaction that Selaković is visiting Montenegro on the occasion of the Book Fair, assessing that this meeting is an important step towards strengthening cultural relations between the two countries.
"For years, there have been no official bilateral meetings between the ministers of culture of Montenegro and Serbia. I believe that this visit will contribute to more intensive cooperation between our ministries and cultural institutions and the rapid implementation of concrete joint projects," Vujović emphasized.
MKM added that the interlocutors agreed that direct cooperation between individuals and the independent scene is much more active than institutional cooperation.
Vujović pointed out that there is already fruitful cooperation between certain national institutions, notably the Maritime Museum, the Music Center and the Montenegrin National Theater, which have direct memorandums of cooperation, but that there is room for even closer connections, especially in the fields of conservation and archaeology.
"For Vujović, the signing of the agreement between the governments of Montenegro and Serbia on combating illicit trade in cultural property is of particular importance, the draft of which Montenegro has already submitted to Serbia for review and approval," the statement reads.
Vujović proposed that archaeologists from Serbia be included in research campaigns conducted by the Montenegrin Center for Conservation and Archaeology.
"In Montenegro, we have several extremely important, but insufficiently researched archaeological sites. We do not have a study program for training archaeologists, and young people's interest in this field is declining," warned Vujović.
She paid special attention to Montenegro's initiative to take over the negatives of feature films from the Lovćen Film fund, which are currently kept in the Yugoslav Cinematheque.
"The Montenegrin Film Archive has already begun discussions in this direction. We finally have the conditions for their adequate preservation and we want these film records to finally be returned and preserved by our institution," said Vujović.
The statement says that Selaković proposed "the formation of a joint working group that would work on reaching an agreement on the return of the Lovćen film negatives, and which would consist of representatives of ministries and film libraries from both countries."
"The group would prepare all necessary steps for the implementation of this initiative," said Selaković.
The MKM said that Selaković confirmed that "Serbia will soon submit comments on the Draft Agreement on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, with the expectation that it will be signed soon."
"During the conversation, Selaković informed Minister Vujović about new projects in Serbia, including the establishment of the National Film Festival, which will be held in the Zlatibor District from this year, as well as the successful implementation of the Cultural Capital of Serbia project - which this year belongs to Zrenjanin," the statement reads.
Selakovć said that both Serbia and Montenegro are trying to position themselves as film destinations.
"Through joint performances, we can present ourselves more strongly on the world stage. We have good incentives for foreign productions, natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage, this is a competitive advantage that should be used together," he emphasized.
The statement says that Selaković praised the organization of the Book Fair in Podgorica, calling it an event of great importance.
"The nineteenth edition of the Fair testifies to its quality and importance. In the digital age, books are increasingly losing their place, especially among young people. Our common task is to raise awareness of the importance of reading, among both younger and older generations," said Selaković.
The MKM statement states that Selaković invited Vujović to visit Serbia, which she accepted.
"Both agree that cooperation between the two countries should not be limited to the institutional level, but should be strengthened through projects implemented by non-governmental organizations and individuals in culture. Cooperation within international initiatives was also discussed, among which joint participation in the project to restore the Yugoslav pavilion at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum stands out, which they marked as an example of a culture of remembrance and regional partnership," the MKM statement reads.
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