Page 228 - Weiss, Jernej, ur./ed. 2026 Skladateljska društva nekoč in danes.../Composers’ Societies Past and Present...

Skladateljska društva nekoč in danes | Composers’ Societies Past and Present
of socialism, which involved international cultural exchange with both
Western and Eastern bloc countries. In this process, the Soviet Union re-
17
mained a platform of strategic importance.
Several key events should be highlighted, discussing cultural cooper-
ation. The exchange of letters between Nikita Khrushchev and Josip Broz
Tito in July and August 1954; the adoption of the “Decision on Measures for
the Restoration of Cultural Ties between the USSR and Yugoslavia” in Sep-
tember 1954 (Communist Party of the Soviet Union/Коммунисти'ческая
па'ртия Сове'тского Сою'з/CK KPSS); and the meeting between Yugoslav
Ambassador Vidić and Soviet Minister of Culture Aleksandrov in October
of the same year. As a result, a bilateral agreement was later concluded in
the form of the Belgrade Declaration, adopted on June 2, 1955. The final part
of the declaration emphasized the obligation of both states to conclude a
18
Convention on Cultural Cooperation to intensify cultural ties. This agree-
ment came into effect on May 17, 1956, under the title “Convention on Cul-
tural Cooperation between the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia and
19
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” Its purpose was to expand friend-
ly relations and to foster and strengthen cultural ties between the two coun-
tries. Furthermore,
The Convention provided for mutual cultural exchange through the ex-
change of scientific, professional, literary, and artistic works and publi-
cations, as well as the translation and publication of these works. It also
covered the exchange of lectures, concerts, theatrical performances,
sporting events, the organization of scientific and artistic exhibitions,
the exchange of scientific, artistic, and documentary films, among
others. 20
The cooperation with the Soviet Union involved primarily the ex-
change of cultural workers based on the principle of guest appearances for
a specific period, and on the established plans for cultural or friendly co-
operation. Annual agreements were signed with various countries, and the
Soviet Union was no exception. However, when considering the broader

17 Ibid., 14–5.
18 Ibid., 15–6.
19 Precise data on not only cultural cooperation, but also all areas of foreign and do-
mestic policy of the SFRY, by year, and in this regard, specific bilateral and other
agreements that were signed, can be found in the journal Yugoslav Survey, see: Ju-
goslovenski pregled: informativno dokumentarni priručnik o Jugoslaviji, 1957–2002.
20 Jovanović, “Jugoslovenski stav prema spornim pitanjima kulturne saradnje,” 17.

228