Berlin Presents Programme of "Russian-German Cultural Meetings"

On Friday Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoi and German State Minister of Culture Christina Weiss presented in Berlin the programme of the "Russian-German Cultural Meetings in 2003-2004." The grand opening of the Year of Russian Culture in Germany organized within the programme will be held on Sunday with the participation of the two countries' Presidents Vladimir Putin and Johannes Rau, Shvydkoi reported.

"During this cultural marathon," the public will see about 350 exhibitions, film debuts, ballet and drama performances, as well as classic and jazz concerts, the minister said. The most important among them are Russia's participation in the world's largest book fair in Frankfurt am Main as a guest country, the large exhibition of painting "Berlin-Moscow/Moscow-Berlin in 1950-2000" and the Music Festival that will be held in different cities of the federal land of Saarland.

The beginning Year of Russian Culture will allow German citizens to "better acquaint themselves with Russian classics and, especially, modern young actors, directors and artists," Christina Weiss emphasized in her turn. Thus, "cultural values will become an asset that can be passed on to future generations," she believes.