The President’s telegram reads in part:
“Your forum is taking place in Syktyvkar, one of the centres of Finno-Ugric culture in Russia, where Finno-Ugric people have kept alive their unique heritage and national identity over the centuries.
Russia and Finland are not simply close neighbours but are also countries that share a common history, countries where human destinies are closely interwoven. Today, it is important to not just preserve but also develop our traditions of cultural dialogue and build on the friendly ties between our countries.”
The 10th Russian-Finnish Cultural Forum Ethno-Cultural Diversity: Traditions and Innovation opened in Syktyvkar, the capital of the Komi Republic. The forum is an international project that is part of the cross-border cooperation programme with the European Union countries.