Cultural diplomacy - strengthening bilateral relations through art and dialogue

The Romanian Embassy in Tunis, in partnership with the General Delegation of the Wallonia-Brussels Region, organized an event dedicated to cultural diplomacy, highlighting the essential role of culture in strengthening international political-diplomatic relations.

The event was occasioned by the presence at the Tunis International Book Fair of Liviu Jicman, president of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) and of the Network of National Cultural Institutes in the European Union (EUNIC).

• Culture - catalyst for international cooperation

The meeting highlighted culture as an essential tool in bringing nations closer together, by developing cultural-artistic partnerships between institutions and personalities from Romania and Tunisia, but also by initiating collaborations with performing arts entities - theaters, operas or festivals on both sides of the Mediterranean. "The presence of creators at local events - concerts, exhibitions, festivals, public readings - plays a fundamental role in strengthening cooperation between nations and facilitating artistic collaborations and international co-productions," informs the ICR.

• A positive dynamic

The Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) of Romania reaffirm their commitment to capitalizing on the positive dynamics of bilateral relations. Thus, the aim is to increase the Romanian cultural presence in Tunisia, but also to stimulate interest in Romanian culture and language, through courses organized by the Romanian Lectorate in Tunis. It is also envisaged to sign, in the second half of this year, a new Cultural Cooperation Program between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia, for the next five years. The program will support the diversification of cultural initiatives, especially in the field of translations into Arabic, but also to promote the literary creations of Romanian authors. The parties involved in the dialogue agreed on the strengthening of joint cultural actions and expressed the desire to maintain a constant and effective dialogue for the coordination of future activities.