Activities for the construction of the old theater in Strumica were launched on Monday. The cornerstone was laid by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska.

The government will invest 220 million denars in the restoration and construction as well as in providing state-of-the-art stage equipment, Gruevski stated.

He said that it took years to prepare the plan to realize the project.

"It was neither easy nor simple. But we were strongly determined to fulfill what we have planned - to reconstruct the theater building. We have made a promise to build it and we haven't forgotten our promise... The rebirth of the old Strumica theater starts today," the PM noted.

For Kanceska-Milevska, the construction of the old Strumica theater is the comeback of a cultural space showcasing the artistic potential of actors from all over Macedonia.

"The Strumica theater will have modern performances and exceptional stage and audio-visual resources. The exterior and interior of the old building will be completely overhauled," she said.