Press releases

The diplomat stressed that the Year of Italian Culture kicks off with the press conference. The event was initiated by the Italian embassy in Minsk under the auspices of the Italian and Belarusian Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The Culture Ministry of Belarus suggested support and expressed readiness for cooperation with a plan of action for 2017, the Ambassador said.

Stefano Bianchi said that about 30 events and projects, including concerts, plays, exhibitions and film screenings, are expected during the Year of Italian Culture. The Year will feature the Day of Italian Design, a fashion week, roundtable sessions, and concerts featuring Italian performers. The program will also include an exhibition of books Francysk Skaryna and His Epoch.

Apart from cultural campaigns, the two countries will organize a number of trade and economic events. Tor instance, the Italian-Belarusian forum will highlight green economy and renewable energy. “The forum is aimed at uniting Italian achievements in the sector with Belarusian innovations and promoting Belarus-Italy collaboration in the area,” the diplomat believes.

In turn, Belarus’ Culture Minister Boris Svetlov stressed the importance of holding the Year of Italian Culture in Belarus, which will be a continuation of Belarus’ Year of Culture in 2016. The minister added that large-scale cultural events and campaigns are regularly held in Belarus.

Boris Svetlov said that this year Belarus is expected to host Days of Culture and various cultural events of Azerbaijan, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Turkey, and also Russia’s Perm Krai. Belarusian Days of Culture have already been held in India and will also take place in China, Hungary, Vietnam, Cambodia, Serbia and other countries.