Chisinau hosts festival of ethnicities

Chisinau, 16 September /MOLDPRES/ – Around 60 ethno – cultural organisations, representing 20 ethnicities, participate in the Festival of Ethnicities (FE), XVIIth issue, held in Chisinau today.

The event named "Unitate prin diversitate" (Unity throughout Diversity) started by laying flowers at the monument of Stephen the Great and the Holy and a parade of folk costumes. Subsequently, a musical – literary performance was presented on the stage arranged in the central Public Garden of Chisinau, with the participation of the artistic groups of the ethno – cultural organisations in Chisinau and other localities in Moldova.

During the festival, the guests have had the opportunity to visit ethnic courts and book exhibitions in the mother tongue of ethnic Moldovans, decorative – applied art exhibitions, fine arts and crafts. The representatives of ethnicities also presented the specifics of national cuisines.

Head of the Interethnic Relations Agency (ARI), Oleg Babenco, has said at the event inauguration that FE is one of the most valuable achievements in the context of promoting state policy in the field of interethnic relations, and its development contributes to development of a favourable environment for the expansion of intercultural dialogue.

Present at the event, head of state, Igor Dodon, said that the Festival has become a traditional one for Moldova. "Regardless of nationality, we are all citizens of Moldova and have nothing to separate. We have only one homeland and must love it," said Dodon.

Deputy speaker of Parliament, Vladimir Vitiuc, said that the cultural diversity of Moldova is celebrated annually in FE in all its forms throughout music, dance, crafts and gastronomy.

The coordinator of the organisation and running of FE is ARI in partnership with City Hall of Chisinau municipality (PMC) and Coordination Council of Ethnocultural Organisations (CCOE).

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor L. Alcaza)