Agenda

Day 1 – Sep. 4, 2023 (Monday)

19:00-21:00

WELCOME RECEPTION for the participants in the Skopje Cultural
Diplomacy Forum 2023  

  • Arrival of guests and welcome by President Ivanov 
  • Cultural program - Musical Performances and Traditional Folk Dance by the Children's Cultural Center Karposh
  • Toasts by: 
    • President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov
    • ICD Director Mr. Mark Donfried
    • Mayor of City of Skopje Mrs. Danela Arsovska
  • Dinner

Day 2 – Sep. 5, 2023 (Tuesday)

09:30

Registration of Participants 
Venue: Foyer in front of Diamond Hall, Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton

 

Exclusive Invitation to the participants to explore the 'Macedonian Alphabet' Exhibition by the distinguished Macedonian painter Sergej Andreevski – a journey of art, culture and heritage that inspires!
The display of the exhibition will be in the Diamond Hall in the Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton

10:00-10:30

OPENING SESSION of the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2023 

  • Moderator: Dr. Ivan Ivanov, Chairman of the Executive Board, International Center Alliance of Civilizations – ICAC

Speeches by:

    • President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov
    • Mayor of City of Skopje Mrs. Danela Arsovska
    • ICD Director Mr. Mark Donfried
  • Photo opportunity

Working language: English (simultaneous translation from Macedonian to English available if needed)
Venue: Diamond Hall, Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton Skopje

10:30-10:45

Short break

10:45-12:15

 

FIRST PANEL (Presidential Panel)
TOPIC: “Western Balkans - Cultural Dialog and Exchange”

Moderator:
Amb. Ivica Bocevski, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration (2008-11) and former Macedonian Ambassador to Brazil (2016-20)

Speakers:

    • Bamir Topi – Former President of Albania 
    • Mladen Ivanić – Former Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Petar Stoyanov – Former President of Bulgaria 
    • Ivo Josipović – Former President of Croatia
    • Boris Tadić – Former President of Serbia 
  • Q&As
  • Photo opportunity

Working language: English (simultaneous translation from Macedonian to English available if needed; Headphones Provided)
Venue: Diamond Hall, Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton  

12:15-12:45

Coffee break 
Venue: foyer in front of the Diamond Hall 

12:45-14:15

SECOND PANEL  
TOPIC: “Restoring Multilateralism – Challenges and Global Power Shift” 

  • National Interests and Global Responsibilities - Balancing Priorities

Moderator: Brigadier General Metodi Hadji Janev, Professor of Law at Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” Skopje

Speakers:  

    • Anne Linde, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden 
    • Hans Köchler, President of International Progress Organization
    • Amb. Zoran Dabikj, diplomat, former Macedonian Ambassador to OSCE and to UN (Vienna 2009-13), and to NATO (Brussels 2014-18)
    • Uli Bruckner – Jean Monet Professor for European Studies (Stanford University Berlin), Professor Academy for Cultural Diplomacy
    • Oana-Silvia Ţoiu, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of Romania
    • Onur Kadir Eryüce, Counsellor to the Mayor of Izmir
  • Q&As
  • Photo Opportunity 

Working language: English 
Venue: Diamond Hall, Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton 

14:30

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the restaurant

15:00-16:00

BUFFET LUNCH for the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy
Forum 2023  

16:00-17:30 

 

THIRD PANEL  
TOPIC: “Promoting Reconciliation: Cultural Diplomacy's Path to 
Restoring Trust in Europe after Ukraine war”  
Speeches and Q&As discussion with the Minister of Defense

Moderator: Hassan Diab – Prime Minister of Lebanon (2020-2021)  Ø Key-note address: Slavjanka Petrovska – Macedonian Minister of Defense

Speakers:  

    • Mark Donfried, ICD Director 
    • Natalia Gavriliata – Prime Minister of Moldova (2021-2023)
    • Fiona O'Loughlin, Member of the Irish Senate
    • Mohammad Hanif Atmar Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan
    • Karl-Erik Norrman - Founder and Secretary General, European Cultural Parliament
    • Oana Murariu – Member of the Romanian Parliament
  • Q&As

Working language: English 

17:30 

Departure of SCDF2023 participants

19:30

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to restaurant

20:00-21:30

DINNER for the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum  2023 

21:30

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the Hotel  

Day 3 – Sep. 6, 2023 (Wednesday)

09:30-10:30

bilateral meetings 
Venue: Lobby, Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton

10:45

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the Assembly  

11:00-12:30

VISIT of the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2023 to the Assembly  

  • Meeting and discussion with the President and members of the National

Council for European integration in the Assembly

Moderator: Aleksandar Nikoloski, President of the National Council for European integration Ø Speakers: 

    • Mark Donfried, ICD Director 
    • Armin Laschet, Chancellor-Candidate of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (2021)\
    • Elmar Brok, Chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (2012-17)
    • Michelle Thomson, Member of the Parliament of Scotland
    • Dalija Orešković, Member of the Parliament of Croatia
    • Ash Reagan, Member of the Parliament of Scotland
  • Q&As

Working language: English 
Venue: Hall "Boris Trajkovski", Assembly  

12:45

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the Cabinet of the President  

13:00-14:00

VISIT of the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2023 to the Cabinet of the President 
- Meeting and discussion with Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski
Venue: Mosaic Hall, Cabinet of the President  

14:15

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the Kale Fortress   

 

PROGRAM ORGANISED BY THE CITY OF SKOPJE 

14:30-15:30

Guided Walking Tour from the Kale Fortress to the Old Bazar - Sightseeing 

15:30-17:00

LUNCH for the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2023 
Venue: Restaurant/Beerhouse “An” (Kapan An), Old Bazar 

17:00-18:30

Guided Walking Tour from Kapan An to the Museum of City of Skopje -in the center of Skopje - Sightseeing 

18:30-20:00

CLOSING RECEPTION for the participants in the Skopje Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2023 

  • Moderator: tbc
  • Closing remarks/toasts: 
    • Aleksandar Trajanovski, Deputy Mayor of Skopje
    • ICD Director Mark Donfried
    • President Gjorge Ivanov
  • Music program - Band Vertigo 

Venue: Museum of the City of Skopje (exhibition part and the restaurant at the terrace)

20:00

Departure of SCDF2023 participants to the Hotel   

End of Program