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Days of Belarusian Culture kick off in UAE

MINSK, 30 January (BelTA) – The opening ceremony of the Days of Belarusian Culture in the United Arab Emirates took place in Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi on 30 January, BelTA learned from spokeswoman for Belarusian Culture Ministry Ilona Nemova.

The Belarusian delegation was led by Culture Minister Yuri Bondar. On 30 January he met with UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi. The parties signed a program on cooperation in culture and art. The ceremony also featured the donation of the facsimile edition Francysk Skaryna’s Book Legacy.

In his welcoming speech, Yuri Bondar stated that the tradition of exchanging Days of Culture between the two countries began with the first Days of UAE Culture in Minsk in October 2017. He also noted that the two countries are tied by many years of cooperation and friendship. The two states have been steadily developing relations in all areas and at all levels.

"Despite the geographical distance, the people of Belarus and the UAE share respect for cultures and traditions, hospitality, love for their native land. 2019 has been declared the Year of Tolerance in the United Arab Emirates and the Year of Native Land in Belarus. For countries such as Belarus and the UAE which are home to representatives of 140-200 nationalities, the concepts of "motherland" and "tolerance" are inseparable and are the basis of peace and sustainable development. Culture serves to form and express the national spirit. Through it we learn about other nations. “I would like to cite the words of great Sheikh Zayed who said that “a country is not measured by the size of its area on the map. A country is truly measured by its heritage and culture,” said Yuri Bondar.

According to him, this event gives a start to the implementation of the first cooperation program between the culture ministries of Belarus and the United Arab Emirates. It envisages the development of cooperation in culture and art through 2022. An important component of this cooperation will be a broad presentation of the Belarusian culture at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Performing at the opening ceremony of the Days was the State Chamber Orchestra of Belarus featuring UAE musicians.

The Days of Belarusian Culture in the UAE will run through 2 February.

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