HANOI, August 21 (Itar-Tass) — A roaring applause to the accompaniment of ‘Bravo’ shouts crowned the completion of a congress of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations /WFUCA/ that ended here Saturday.
The ovation was produced by the performance of a Bolshoi ballet stage pair Anna Tikhomirova and Artyom Ovcharenko, who took part in the conclusive gala concert.
This was the first time that Vietnam hosted a UNESCO summit of this kind. Additional importance was attached to the event by the fact that the WUFCA marks the 30th anniversary since its foundation these days.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made a speech at the opening of the Congress, and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova sent a video address.
In addition, Ms Bokova’s personal representative, former Director-General Koichiro Matsuuraa who had stood at the head of UNESCO for ten years, attended the Congress which brought together more than 200 delegates from all over the world.
The plenary sessions that continued for two days evidenced intense discussions of the problem of peace and security and the broadening of cooperation between different nations in the field of education, science and culture.
The forum’s program was more than just words, however. The organizers of the Congress showed in a graphic form the achievements that have been scored in cultural cooperation.
They organized a huge gala-concert, in which the participating countries would be represented by some of their best performers.
The audience gave a very hearty reception to absolutely everyone on the stage but the Bolshoi duet became the apparent favorites of the show.
Their adagio from Adolph Adan’s ‘Le Corsaire’ enchanted the audience and the intensity of the applause the house gave to them did not die down for quite some time.
The spectators gave them the three encores, literally showered them with flowers and then formed a long line to take their autographs.
Anna and Artyom did not conceal their joy – they had managed to reaffirm the Bolshoi’s high standards and they were apparently happy.