site.btaVP Opens International Children's Ethnic Festival in Southern Bulgaria

Vice President Iliana Iotova opened the 22nd International Children's Ethnic Festival “Children on the Balkans - with Their Spirtual Wealth in Europe” in the village of Mineralni bani, Southern Bulgaria, the press centre of the head of State said on Friday. “For three days, Mineralni Bani will be the capital of children from the Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova - with so many colours, colourful costumes, talent, beauty,” Iotova said in her address to the children and guests of the festival - over 2,200 participants from all over Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine.

"The Balkans are usually spoken of as a source of conflict and division. This festival proves that there are many people who show the other face of the Balkans through the talents of our children, who with their friendships build much more stable roads than those of stone. There is no division here between ages, languages, religions, ethnicities," the Vice President stressed.

She thanked the teachers, educators and parents for teaching children understanding, the willingness to reach out for a handshake, for friendship, for support, to want and to be able to understand the other. “With this festival we are also teaching them the most important lesson - humanity, kindness and tolerance,” Iotova said. “Our message is for the sake of the well-being of our children, who are waiting for peace, protection and conditions for their development from us, the adults,” the Vice President emphasized.

The International Children's Ethnofestival is organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria and the Charity Fund Prof. Dr. Zheljazko Hristov with the assistance of the Municipality of Mineralni Bani.