BOSNIAK INSTITUTE YIELDED TO PRESSURE FROM RUSSOPHOBIC ELEMENTS IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 13 /SRNA/ - The Russian Embassy in BiH described the cancellation of the "Rising Stars" concert in Sarajevo as a "brazen incident," stressing that the management of the Bosniak Institute Foundation had bowed to pressure from what it called Russophobic elements in the city's political and media circles.

The Embassy said it had been notified of the unilateral cancellation of last night's Russian classical music concert, featuring young musicians, only two hours before the event was due to begin, although the performance had previously been properly arranged.

The Russian Embassy expressed regret that the management of the Bosniak Institute Foundation had, as it put it, become intimidated and yielded to pressure from Russophobic elements in Sarajevo seeking to undermine cultural cooperation between the two countries and prevent greater mutual understanding between the peoples of BiH and the Russian Federation.

"It is particularly regrettable that this involved young, talented musicians whose sole aim was to promote friendship and dialogue through music and build new bridges between our peoples," the Russian Embassy in BiH said.

The Embassy said the turnout for last night's concert and the reactions to its cancellation conveyed to its staff once again vividly demonstrated the good relations between the peoples of BiH and Russia and showed that Russian culture could not be canceled.

"For this reason, we hope that this incident with the Bosniak Institute will remain only a stumbling block on the broad path of our cooperation and that people will be able to enjoy Russian art not only in Sarajevo but in many other cities across BiH," the Embassy said.

"Rising Stars" concerts featuring young Russian musicians were held in Banja Luka and Istočno Novo Sarajevo, while another performance had been scheduled for Sarajevo last night.

The concert program includes Russian folk compositions and works by Sergei Taneyev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Konstantin Mostras, as well as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt and Luigi Bassi.

The concerts were organized with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory and the federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo.