9 July, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. Representatives of 34 countries are taking part in the XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk". This was stated today at the official opening ceremony of the International Press Centre of the forum by the First Deputy Minister of Culture of Belarus, Vladimir Karachevsky, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. According to the First Deputy Minister, the festival in Vitebsk is a magnificent celebration of friendship and art, and therefore the number of its friends is increasing every year. "The current forum will undoubtedly bring new names and discoveries. As in previous years, it will once again surprise and delight all its participants," Vladimir Karachevsky is confident. As noted by the Minister of Information of Belarus, Oleg Proleikovsky, about 500 journalists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and China will cover the festival events daily. Traditionally, the most numerous press representatives are the Belarusian and Russian journalist teams: over 60 mass media outlets represent our country, and about 70 people are accredited from Russia. The XIX International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" will be held from 9 to 15 July, however, the first solo concerts have already launched the festival events.-0-

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