Sunday, 6 july 2014
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT VELJANOSKI AT THE 53RD BALKAN FESTIVAL OF FOLK SONGS AND DANCE
Distinguished MPs,
Distinguished Mayor of Ohrid,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished participants in the Festival,
Dear friends,
The pleasure to be part of this event is greater each year. Greater, considering the venerability, its significance, the acknowledgements and the attention it receives.
We are particularly pleased by the fact that the Balkan Festival of Folk Songs and Dance, as the oldest folklore event at the Balkan, it is recognized as it deserved, in the state and abroad.
At the opening of the 53rd edition of this the important cultural event allow me to first and foremost express my appreciation to the organizer of the event, the National Institution Centre of Culture “Grigor Prlichev”, which assisted by the Ministry of Culture, through this Festival, promotes the Macedonian cultural values and presents the Macedonian folklore, simultaneously promoting and proving the Macedonian hospitality and openness to others who cherish these permanent values.
It is necessary, as state, but also as individuals, to be constantly determined and engaged in the preservation, appreciation and promotion of tradition and cultural characteristics, which confirm us as part of the European culture and part of the overall civilization and cultural heritage.
The Macedonian people have always succeeded, regardless of the circumstances, to preserve the most valuable characteristics and transfer them to the future generations. Macedonian people, succeeded in a most dignifying manner, to respond to the token of the ancestors, to preserve its national and cultural identity.
Preserving them cherishing and conveying them to the future generations, the Macedonian people have always valued and respected all these values in others, neighbors and all nations. Macedonian people have always respected and recognized the different cultural characteristics, comprehending them as treasure of the civilization.
The national songs and dance in particular, as part of the folklore and the overall spiritual establishment of a nation, are significant unit of the national and cultural identity of each nation, immune to time, borders and daily political events.
Distinguished attendees,
Allow me to welcome you all, primarily the guests coming from Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, Australia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia, Greece and Serbia and to which you all beautiful and successful presentations, fellowship, new friendships and beautiful moments which you will bring with you from Ohrid and Macedonia.
Esteemed attendees, allow me to proclaim the 53rd Festival of National Songs and Dance open.
Thank you.