On July 8, Vitebsk / Vladimir Matveev - BELTA /. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will take part in the grand opening ceremony of the XX International Arts Festival "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" this evening. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the press service of the Belarusian leader. During the festival opening, the Head of State will also present the special award "Through Art - to Peace and Mutual Understanding" to the People's Artist of the USSR, composer Igor Luchenok. The main idea of the anniversary festival is the unification of Slavic countries around Belarus, the affirmation of spiritual values and the beauty of the culture of Slavic peoples, a call for peace and mutual understanding between different peoples, and Belarus's openness to all who bring goodwill and peace. The festival program includes 21 events at the Summer Amphitheatre venue, including opening and closing concerts, concerts by art masters from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and the Union State, the international pop song performers contest "Vitebsk-2011", the international children's music contest, and solo concerts by pop stars. In total, over 70 events will be held within the framework of the festival.-0-

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