The "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" has become one of the seeds from which Eurasian integration is growing – A. Lukashenko

July 12, Vitebsk / Tatyana Polezhay - BELTA /. The "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" has allowed the peoples of the Eurasian space to preserve their historical community and a unified cultural space, believes President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. He stated this today during the opening of the XXI International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk," a BELTA correspondent reports. "Undoubtedly, the Vitebsk forum has become one of those seeds from which Eurasian integration sprouts. After all, it has allowed our peoples to preserve their historical community and a unified cultural space," the head of state said. "This forum was destined by fate itself to become a center of attraction for different cultures. After all, even in its name - 'Slavianski Bazaar' - one can hear an echo of both European and Eastern civilization," the President believes. According to Alexander Lukashenko, it is no coincidence that Vitebsk was chosen as the venue for the festival, where "on fertile ground, created from the interweaving of traditions and cultures, geniuses were born and flourished." The head of state noted that at the beginning of the last century, the city on the Dvina was aptly called the Belarusian Paris: "Despite their external dissimilarity, these cities are very close internally. Their streets and squares are filled with an atmosphere of inspiration that gives wings to artists and gives birth to masterpieces." It was Vitebsk that formed the unique character of the "Slavianski Bazaar," making sincerity, openness, intelligence, and the desire to uphold aesthetic ideals its main features, the President believes. "This is where Paris lags behind Vitebsk," Alexander Lukashenko added. "The festival does not break creative personalities, it does not force them into the framework of standards and formats. It recognizes the right to a special view in art, values in any work primarily the originality of the idea, the perfection of form, and the depth of content. And at the same time, it remains true to the great mission of art, which has come down to us from the Renaissance: to ennoble the human soul, to affirm human dignity, to bring beauty and harmony to the world," the head of state noted. Alexander Lukashenko drew attention to the fact that the entire festival is imbued with respect for the creative uniqueness of each people and contributes to the birth of new artistic ideas. "In the modern world, the 'Slavianski Bazaar' serves as a beacon of spirituality and goodness," the President believes. "The striving for brotherhood and mutual respect, openness, generosity constitute the essence of the Slavic soul. We are always ready to share the best and warmly welcome everyone who comes to us with an open heart, to us, Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians." -0-