I International Folk Festival Danubian Garland has opened in Odesa today, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Head of non-governmental organization Agency for Regional Development Galina Bezikovich, chief Office for Foreign Economic Activities and European Integration of Odesa Regional State Administration of Odesa Regional State Administration Viktor Bondaruk, director of the Cultural Centre the Lower Danube (Romania, Galati) Sergio Dimitresku, representative of the Romanian Parliament Florin Pyslaru and other foreign guests.

During the opening ceremony, Chief of the Office of Foreign Economic Affairs and European Integration, in particular, said: “We are very happy about this auspicious event. I very much hope that this first festival, which takes place here in Odesa, will be the beginning of a large and serious process on permanent basis to develop the culture and crafts of the peoples living in the Danube region of Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, and such festivals and other events will become traditional. It is also encouraging to note that this festival is the work of the European Union Programme Ukraine — Romania — Moldova operating since 2007. And we hope that this will further attract the attention of our organizations and institutions for projects that can be implemented under this programme.”

“I hope that the work we’ve done caught our residents’ interest as well as the visitors’ of the festival, who there will be many. This will encourage our members to continue participating in such activities, and residents of the city and the region and our neighbours will once again how beautiful and diverse our Danube region as a fact with which we are familiar and that is interesting and beautiful. I wish you all fruitful work, the organizers — many thanks to the guests — welcome to Odessa”, added Mr Bondaruk.