Video address on Intervision International Song Contest

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!