KALABUKHOV: RUSSIAN AND SERBIAN PEOPLES ARE UNITED BY SPIRITUAL VALUES

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 12 /SRNA/ – Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov has said today in a statement to SRNA in Banja Luka that spirituality is what connects the friendly Russian and Serbian peoples.

"That is the basis of our joint existence and that is our shared platform on which we build all kinds of relations between the Russian Federation and Republika Srpska, starting from meetings at the highest political level. We also have economic exchange, humanitarian ties, as well as sister-city relations", Kalabukhov said, commenting on the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Republika Srpska". Kalabukhov, who attended this evening the concert of Honored Artist of Russia Nina Shatskaya and the Ensemble of Young Soloists of the National Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments "Nikolai Osipov", said he is especially pleased that the Russian language is being studied in Republika Srpska, stressing that this is also something that unites the two countries. He said he is pleased by student visits, with pupils traveling from Russia to Republika Srpska and from Republika Srpska to Russia. "There were several interesting events during the 'Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Republika Srpska' and I hope that Nina Shatskaya's concert is another attraction for Banja Luka", Kalabukhov said. He stressed the desire for the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Republika Srpska" to become a tradition. "I hope that we will also be able to organize Days of Spiritual Culture of Republika Srpska in the Russian Federation, which would be significant in these turbulent times when we have many political and social conflicts", Kalabukhov said. The Banja Luka audience enjoyed a concert held in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Banja Luka by Honored Artist of Russia Nina Shatskaya and the Ensemble of Young Soloists of the National Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments "Nikolai Osipov". In addition to the Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabukhov, the concert was attended by the head of the Russian Embassy Office in Banja Luka Yury Pichugin, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, clergy of the Eparchy of Banja Luka and representatives of cultural and public life. With this concert, the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture", held over the past two days in Banja Luka concluded, offering visitors rich choral music, photography and romance. This is one of the leading international projects of the Russian Ministry of Culture aimed at promoting the spiritual and moral values of the Russian people and national culture abroad. The project is implemented with the participation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Orthodox Church, while the organizer is ANO "Russian Seasons". Since 2008, events within this manifestation have been held in more than 50 countries worldwide. The event was officially opened last night by a concert of the Patriarchal Choir of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior from Moscow at the Cultural Center "Banski Dvor".