World Folklore Festival will be held at highest level - Rustem Khamitov

UFA, 20 September 2018. /Bashinform News Agency/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/. On September 19, at the Ufa Congress Hall, the Head of Bashkortostan delivered a speech at the official opening ceremony of the 48th World Congress and the General Assembly of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF).

"We are glad that Ufa and Bashkortostan have been chosen as a place for carrying out the World Folklore Festival. I assure you that the Folklore Festival will be conducted at the highest level. Both visitors and our residents will be pleased and fascinated by art, folk traditions, the folklore of guests who will come here", said the Head of the Region. "You are doing a huge, extremely important, noble work - helping the peoples to speak the language of friendship. Bashkortostan is sincerely glad that it has been accepted into the big CIOFF family, and will do everything possible to make a really great, wonderful holiday for our dear guests in 2020".

The participants of the Congress were also welcomed by the CIOFF president Philip Bossan and the president of the CIOFF Russian national section, the director of the State Russian House of Folk Art Tamara Purtova.

"The World Folklore Festival is the most important event of the CIOFF, in which more than 2,500 dancers and musicians from all over the world take part. It unites representatives of different cultures, strengthens friendship and harmony among peoples, introduces the cultural heritage of representatives of all participating countries", said Philip Bossan. "I am grateful to the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov and the Russian national section of the CIOFF for the fact that Ufa will host this grandiose event in 2020".

The CIOFF Head noted that representatives from more than 70 countries would come to Bashkortostan. In 2020, CIOFF turns 50 years old - the organization will celebrate its anniversary in Ufa.

A presentation of the countries-participants of the Congress took place within the framework of the opening ceremony. Representatives of the national sections told about the support of folk art and preparation for the World Folklore Festival 2020 in Ufa.

The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) has been operating since 1970. Since 2012 it has been an official partner of UNESCO. Its main goal is to preserve and promote traditional culture and folklore. For many years the Russian national section of CIOFF is represented by the State Russian House of Folk Art.