The greeting reads, in part:
”Your festival is an important, in many ways a unique joint project between Russia and France in the field of international cultural cooperation. For ten years now it has been been held successfully here on the French Riviera, delighting innumerable spectators with its varied and rich cultural programme. This year a discerning public will get to know some of the most important theatre and music drama of recent years, along with a retrospective showing of the best Russian films and of artistic masterpieces from the the nation's largest museum collections. I am pleased that this year's festival guests will enjoy unique folk groups and the work of masters of arts and crafts from various regions of our country.
I am convinced that this major event will excite great interest and a large public response, enrich contacts among cultural figures, and help many Europeans know and understand Russia better“.