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Ladies and gentlemen, friends, Mr President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev,

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I am pleased to welcome the participants and guests 

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of the International Cultural Forum in Russia.

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This is the sixth time cultural figures from many countries are meeting 

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in St Petersburg to discuss with their colleagues problems of the arts 

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and education and the preservation of the historical and cultural 

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heritage, as well as to share their ideas and identify new avenues 

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for developing cultural cooperation.

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Your involvement, mutual trust and commitment to partnership show once 

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again that culture is a universal language of communication and mutual 

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understanding, and it has enormous potential for uniting 

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people around noble humanistic goals.

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Moreover, culture saves the most important,

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core values and standards and passes them on to future generations.

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It helps connect the past, present and the future,

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preserve the identity and uniqueness of every nation,

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and it also helps people navigate the rapidly changing global world.

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Finally, culture, art and education are a response to the challenges 

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of barbarity, intolerance and aggressive radicalism,

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which are threatening our civilization.

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This is a path toward overcoming dividing lines and barriers,

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as well as all sorts of prejudices that impede forward movement.

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We highly appreciate the fact that the spirit and purpose of the St Petersburg Forum

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are very much in demand and that all together we have 

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managed to create yet another venue for an open and equal dialogue,

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as well as for launching initiatives serving the mutual enrichment 

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of cultures and therefore the harmonious development 

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of the world as a whole.

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One such project was presented today –

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the International Theatre Olympiad;

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our colleagues and I have just talked about this.

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It was decided to hold the Olympiad in Russia in 2019.

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Our country already had the privilege of hosting this 

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unique event in Moscow in 2001.

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It did its utmost to ensure that the event become unprecedented 

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in terms of scale and significance.

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At that time about 5,000 actors from 40 countries participated in it 

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while the number of spectators exceeded 1 million.

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I have no doubt that the new show of theatrical achievements from all 

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over the world will be just as successful.

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Especially given that its venue will be St Petersburg,

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one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the world,

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which is rightly regarded as our country’s cultural capital.

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Invaluable monuments and some of the world’s largest museums,

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theatres and libraries are concentrated here;

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the names of great musicians, artists and writers,

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whose works have become part of world cultural heritage,

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are associated with it.

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All of this, without any doubt,

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fosters a special creative atmosphere in St Petersburg.

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I am confident that the participants and guests of the International 

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Cultural Forum could feel this to the fullest.

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Allow me to wish you every success and all the very best.

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Thank you.