President: Any Effort to Control Culture Shows Lack of Culture

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The state is supposed to create prerequisites and conditions for culture, not to control it politically, said President Zuzana Caputova, who on Friday received representatives of the cultural community to discuss with them the coalition's proposals for legislative amendments that will significantly affect the field of culture and art. "Culture belongs to all of us and any attempts to control it are a manifestation of lack of culture," the Head of State emphasised, also in view of the concerns expressed by former culture minister Marek Madaric, rector of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VSVU) Bohunka Koklesova, rector of the Academy of Performing Arts (VSMU) Martin Smatlak and member of the National Theatre Drama Martin Huba in the case of the political proposals being submitted to her. The head of state also stressed that any fundamental changes must be made in cooperation with those who are directly affected by them. Caputova didn't rule out that she'll also meet with the authors of the proposals to discuss the arguments and implications of the proposed changes. "However, from the way the authors are communicating this political will, it is obvious that they are determined," she stated. am/mcs