MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. Representatives of all those countries expressing an interest in taking part in the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum have been accredited, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said at a press conference hosted by TASS.

"We are expecting speakers from China, Japan, Spain, Serbia, Italy, the Republic of South Africa, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. I think everyone has taken note that there are no unfriendly countries, or unfriendly cultural figures at our forum of unified cultures. All of those who wished to be accredited, arrive [here in St. Petersburg], speak and discuss will be welcome guests during the days [of the Forum], as well as on all other days," the culture minister said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the Forum, Presidential Cultural Affairs Adviser Vladimir Tolstoy said. "I can firmly state that Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] has exhibited a great deal of interest in this Forum. We are compiling and furnishing [him] with all relevant information pertaining to the Forum," Tolstoy said.

Plans call for signing 11 programs of cooperation and various memoranda at the Forum, Lyubimova noted. "We will also hold the first ceremony for awarding the Hermitage Prize," she added.

The 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum will be held on November 16-18 after a three-year hiatus. It will be held at several venues across Russia’s "Northern Capital," including the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum, the General Staff Building, the Russian Museum of Ethnography and the St. Petersburg State Academic Capella. TASS is serving as the Forum’s general information partner.