EUROPEAN FOLKLORE FESTIVAL OPENS IN BELGRADE

BELGRADE, MAY 23 /SRNA/ - The European Folklore Festival of the Diaspora was opened today in Belgrade, bringing together around 2,000 participants from 35 ensembles across nine countries.

Vladimir Kokanović, Director of the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region, said that Serbs in the Diaspora are the best guardians of Serbian identity, names, and surnames, and the best ambassadors of Serbia and representatives of Serbian national interests.

“This is a wonderful emotion. There are rare occasions when one can feel such a national spirit and emotion, and moments when we can all come together. Young people from the Diaspora will compete, present themselves, and perform for the Serbian public,” Kokanović said.

He pointed out that the folklore festival is a special opportunity to present to the Serbian and regional public what Serbs in the Diaspora are doing, the challenges they face, and the love with which they preserve Serbian identity in the countries where they live.

“This is the best that Serbia has. We have been given the honor to co-organize the Serbian folklore festival, and we are truly proud of everything our people in the Diaspora are doing,” Kokanović said.

Kokanović said that it is estimated that, in addition to the young folklore performers, at least 6,000 Serbs from the Diaspora are in the Serbian capital this weekend.

Cultural and artistic societies from Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Sweden, and Italy are participating in the event, having qualified through selection festivals in their respective countries.

The European Diaspora Folklore Festival is being held at the MTS Hall, and the organizers are the Association of Serbian Folklore of the Diaspora and the Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.