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Lukashenko gifted ‘Slavonic unity’ bouquet at Slavianski Bazaar’s opening ceremony
MINSK, 16 July (BelTA) – During the ceremony held on 16 July to open the 35th international art festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko received a gift to commemorate the festival’s jubilee: a composition made of 35 cornflowers, BelTA has learned.
Footage from 1995 with Aleksandr Lukashenko declaring that he will patronize the international art festival in Vitebsk was shown on the screen of the Summer Amphitheater.
The festival’s hostess Yelena Spiridovich said: “Back in 1995 we presented a symbolic gift to you in recognition of the decisive contribution to the destiny of the international forum. Back then it was only one cornflower. Today we present an entire bouquet of ‘Slavonic unity’. It contains as many as 35 cornflowers. Exactly as many as the years our festival has seen!”
Accepting the gift, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that all the gifts presented to the president belong to the country and cannot be personal gifts. Contemplating what to do with this gift, the head of state initially intended to leave it in Vitebsk. “And then I thought it may be a good idea to elevate it higher. And I decided that we will find a good spot either in our new National Museum or in the Palace of Independence. Because it is a significant moment,” the head of state shared.
The president recalled how people of art implored him to keep Slavianski Bazaar in place in the first few years back then. “And I promised that we should preserve this production whatever it may cost us. We faced rains and heat of the sun. All kinds of things happened here. We had to build the roof [over the Summer Amphitheater] here. We had to take our artistic event under the roof. But we’ve preserved it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
“And I am happy. In my long presidential life it is one of the important pages,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
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