State secretary at the Ministry of Education and Culture Ferenc Csák praised the cultural-based regional development concept of the conference's hosts, AKKU, a civil organisation that started working closely with local councils and other organisations in the region in 2005. He said the civil initiative offers the region a chance for development as well as serving the interests of the entire country.
Suchman said all of the conditions are right for a renaissance in the Balaton region - a cultural renaissance envisioned by the area's residents at the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s. Much money is still necessary to build theatres and keep up the many cultural elements in the region, he said, but added that "one cannot create tourism where there is no lively atmosphere and no culture."
AKKU director Péter Horgas said the purpose of the conference was to work out in detail ways to tie the programme in Pécs and the Balaton - Europe's Cultural Area campaign together.
