"Through Art to Peace and Mutual Understanding". The motto of Slavianski Bazaar is more relevant than ever in the conditions of political and cultural turbulence. No matter what, the Slavic world will be united and Slavic languages will sound on the Vitebsk stage. Our President expressed his confidence in this on the eve of the opening of the festival. The ideas of peace and good will prevail once again, and the aspiration of peoples for friendship will overcome any obstacles.
Slavianski Bazaar has been bringing cultures together for three decades and keeps on connecting people all over the world. Festive Vitebsk opened its doors to its friends.
Slavic hospitality and true art are far from politics. The secret of festival success is simple. In Vitebsk people speak the same language - the language of friendship and respect. It is more valuable today than ever before.
Numerous guests come for it year after year. In mid-July all roads lead to Vitebsk. Friendship, trust, sincerity are simple human values, without which the fragile world is doomed. Alexander Lukashenko told about it from the main Vitebsk stage.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
No matter how they turn history upside down today, we lost Ukraine long before the special operation started. It was back then, when its politicians themselves gave up their Slavic identity. But no matter what happens, the Ukrainian language was and will be heard at the opening of Slavianski Bazaar, including today. It will always be heard here. Ukraine and the brotherly Ukrainian people will return to their family. We must do everything we can to keep this festival alive and people from all over the world will come here. And let there be no doubt: our Slavic soul will bear everything. It will suffer once again, but the ideas of goodness, peace and justice will triumph again.
Of course, the festive atmosphere hardly disposes to such serious conversations. But today, alas, any events, even those that are a priori "outside politics," are seen through the prism of Western insanity and absurdity. Every now and then, they try to separate us with an iron curtain, but in spite of everything, people from various corners of the world come to visit us.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
Today, just like always, there are true friends here with the Belarusians who share our position and views on life. Believe me, we in Belarus cherish it very much. Thank you very much for that. Together we have indeed created a large-scale project of the global level, which unites the peoples and cultures, demonstrates our common historical choice and our national dignity. The fact that the Slavianski Bazaar has long ceased to be a cultural event and that political passions are constantly flaring up around it is further proof of this. I am grateful to all the participants of the festival who bravely and proudly came to represent the culture of their country. The future of the world should be in the hands of people like you. Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians, and representatives of many, many countries of the world will perform at Vitebsk venue. On the Vitebsk stage, new stars traditionally continue to light up. (The Belarusian Yelisey Kasich - Grand Prix of the Children's Contest, but with adult ambitions!) Thanks are due to those who delight the audience with their creative work. Those, who for decades have been leading us to peace and mutual understanding through the arts.
Anatoly Yarmolenko, People's Artist of Belarus:
This award - it's called "For Peace and Understanding." Here, in our country, in our land there should always be peace and mutual understanding. In our country, outside our country, with our neighbors.
There's a new cornflower star on the Walk in his honor. And the applause of the festival Vitebsk.
A pass to the country is a ticket to the festival. Maximum openness, the famous Belarusian hospitality. When the world is set on a course to divide. "Slavic Bazaar", on the contrary, truly brings peoples together.
Denis Maidanov, Honored Artist of Russia:
Slavonic Bazaar is a place where the whole Slavic world comes. And there are no restrictions on the states that can come here. For 31 years, these doors have been open for all who come with goodness, with a soul..
