Video address on Intervision International Song Contest • President of Russia

Vladimir Putin: Participants and jury members, visitors and TV viewers,

Today you will watch one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year – the finals of the revived Intervision International Song Contest.

Throughout many years, this remarkable creative competition brought
together gifted performers from various countries, served the development of cultural dialogue and strengthened friendship between peoples.

Today, the Intervision, being loyal to its traditions, is gaining a new
scope. Most up-to-date achievements of the concert industry, the diversity of countries
and styles, the atmosphere of creative freedom, kindness and mutual respect
make it a real holiday for the artists and the audience.

Representatives of more than 20 countries will take the stage with exciting
and distinctive performances to introduce the entire world to the modern music
art of their countries.

Culture and music have no borders. Today’s gala is to show the uniting power
of art.

The modern world is rapidly changing. It is formulating a great request for justice, for a broad and equal access to the fruits of socio-economic and cultural progress. Peoples have the right to free development and preservation
of their identity. People seek communication, want to have a better knowledge and understanding of other countries’ cultures.

The Intervision is a musical event that fully responds to this request. This
is why so many countries agreed to accept the invitation and take part in it.

I believe that this contest will be one of the most recognisable and favourite
all over the world because it is through dialogue and mutual respect, and strengthening
of trust between cultures, that we become spiritually richer.

Russia has always been and remains a country open for communication and constructive cooperation. We hold our traditions dear and respect traditions of others. It is the respect for traditional values and the diversity of cultures that
actually serve as the basic idea of this contest and inspires its participants
to creative achievements.

I want to wish all the contest participants successful performances and deserved recognition. Let each of you feel the wholehearted and sincere support
of the audience. And I wish exciting emotions and joy from this meeting with genuine
art to everybody in the audience and in front of TV screens.

The best of luck!