The Republic of Hungary supports Novi Sad for the European Capital of Culture 2021, and hopes for the positive assessment after a decision tomorrow at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, it was pointed out at today’s meeting of the President of the Assembly of Novi Sad, Zdravko Jelušić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, Novica Antić, and State Secretary for Culture of the Republic of Hungary, Peter Hoppal, PhD.

At today’s meeting it was pointed out that the concept of Novi Sad for the European Capital of Culture is based on a very intensive and comprehensive program, and that cultural values nourished in Novi Sad are the cultural values of Europe.

The visit of the delegation of the Republic of Hungary was organized prior to the decision which city from countries in the process of joining the European Union will bear the title of European Capital of Culture.

– This support is very important, because the image of the City of Novi Sad, as we know today, was mainly formed by Serbian and Hungarian nation – said the President of the City Assembly, Zdravko Jelušić, stressing that „we hope that Novi Sad will be the European Capital of Culture“.

State Secretary for Culture of the Republic of Hungary, Peter Hoppal, explained that Hungary is very keen that Europe is presented the cultural values that exist in its central part, specifying that this primarily refers to Romania, that is Timisoara, which was recently elected for European Capital of Culture 2021 from the EU Member States, as well as Serbia and Novi Sad, as a candidate from a country that is in the process of joining the EU. He also reminded that during the process of nomination Timisoara and Novi Sad signed an agreement on cooperation and understanding, saying that he believes such a document will be one of the strong arguments for making a decision that Novi Sad, along withTimisoara, becomes the European Capital of Culture 2021.

– Such a synergy of the two cities represents a cultural wealth that we want to present to Europe. Today I arrived from Budapest in order to support the City of Novi Sad to gain the title of European Capital of Culture in 2021 – pointed out Peter Hopal, PhD.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information, Novica Antić, thanked on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the given support. He said that the victory of Novi Sad for the European Capital of Culture would also be recognition to the Republic of Hungary, because Novi Sad pervades Hungarian culture.

– This city is not just a simple collection of different religions, customs, traditions, but the result of it all. Such unity in diversity deserves to be presented to Europe – said Antic.

Besides the state secretaries of the two countries and the President of the Assembly, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, Asja Drača Muntean, representatives of the Organizing Committee of Novi Sad 2021 Dušanka Manić, Rita Kinka and Marton Mehes, Consul General of the Republic of Hungary in Subotica, Janoš Babić, Director of the Hungarian cultural Institute „Collegium Hungaricum“ in Belgrade Janoš Dezso, as well as member of the Assembly of Novi Sad Gyula Kiss.