Various types and forms of written memory from ancient manuscripts, maps and plans, photos, posters, recordings to contemporary digital documents witnessing the rich cultural heritage and multi-layered history and tradition of 13 Slavic capitals: Skopje, Belgrade, Bratislava, Minsk, Cetinje, Moscow, Sofia, Kiev, Prague, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Zagreb is included in the international exhibition "Slavic Capitals in 2D", opened Tuesday at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU).

The exhibit comes as a result of the cooperation between Macedonia's State Archive and the historical archives in Belgrade, Ljubljana, Kiev, Bratislava, Minsk, Moscow, Prague, Sarajevo, Sofia, Warsaw and Cetinje.

Opening the event, Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska said the exhibition was a result of the successful work done by the Forum of Slavic Cultures charged with fostering cultural traditions of the Slavic nations and promoting them as permanent and universal values around the world for ten years.

She praised the significance of the foundation and Macedonia's contribution to advancing inter-cultural dialogue and links between Slavic nations.

"The State Archive of Macedonia together with the historical archives in Belgrade, Ljubljana, Kiev, Bratislava, Minsk, Moscow, Prague, Sarajevo, Sofia, Warsaw and Cetinje uses the exhibition to present to us the magnificent spiritual and material truth about the development of the Slavic civilization. This exhibit showcases the dynamic cultural and historical processes in the Slavic capitals revealing their history, culture, religion, their cultural and social events," said Kanceska-Milevska.

She added that the exhibition's opening in Macedonia marked the start of a milestone - the 10th anniversary of the Forum of Slavic Cultures.

"Jubilee festivities will resume in a joint exhibition of the forum's members entitled "Slavic Carnivals", set to be opened in Paris as part the activities marking the Day of Slavic Culture. Macedonia will be the first host taking over this significant exhibition of our common intangible cultural heritage," stated Kanceska-Milevska.

The exhibition, which runs in Skopje until April 7, was prepared under the UNESCO auspices and launched in its Paris offices last year in May.