The "Slavianski Bazaar" connects the beauty of Slavic culture with the energy of modern civilization – A. Lukashenko

July 10, Vitebsk /BELTA/. The "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" Arts Festival has combined the beauty of ancient Slavic culture with the rhythms and energy of modern civilization. This fact was particularly noted today by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, speaking at the opening ceremony of the XVIII International Arts Festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," as reported by a BELTA correspondent. According to the head of state, the secret to the Vitebsk forum's success and its special magic lies primarily in the fact that "Slavianski Bazaar" has its own unique identity and original traditions, which attract people like a magnet. Alexander Lukashenko noted that in recent years, many diverse festivals and stage shows have emerged in the post-Soviet space. "However, the impression is that they are made according to a template, losing originality in the pursuit of glamour, and do not touch people's hearts," the President said. At the same time, he emphasized that for the Vitebsk festival, the priorities have always been not commercial interest and PR, but freedom of creativity and support for artists, regardless of the whims of changing musical fashion. The head of state is convinced that true talent cannot be stamped out on a factory assembly line. In his opinion, talent is "unique, inimitable, but defenseless against big money and pragmatic calculation." "That is precisely why the main merit of 'Slavianski Bazaar' from the outset has been its ability to discover and support true talent. It is very pleasant to hear when our guests say that it is 'Slavianski Bazaar' that is a powerful stimulus for the development of national cultures of near and far countries, whose representatives consider it an honor to perform on the stage of the Summer Amphitheater," Alexander Lukashenko said. -0-