Experts to Consider about 500 Versions of Russian-Belarussian Anthem

Russian and Belarussian experts will consider 432 versions of the anthem of Russia-Belarus Union State on April 21-23 in Moscow.

The working group of experts will include two representatives of Russian and Belarussian Unions of Composers and Unions of Writers and two specialists of the Gorky Literature Institute, Moscow, Ivan Makushok, press secretary of Pavel Borodin, Secretary of State of Russia-Belarus Union, told RIA Novosti.

The experts will choose 30 best versions and submit them with relevant conclusions to the final meeting of the commission for the anthem of the Union State.

"Obviously, the commission will meet after May holidays (May 1-9)," Makushok said. The precise date depends on the plans of Russian State Duma Speaker and Chairman of Russia-Belarus Parliamentary Assembly Gennady Seleznyov, the chairman of the anthem commission.

The commission will choose several contest winners, who will perform their versions at the final gala concert in the Kremlin Palace. The contest on the audience's favourite will be also held at the concert.

According to Makushok, the contest on the music and lyrics of the Union State anthem was announced in April 2002 and the first meeting of the expert anthem commission was held in December.