Gala concert dedicated to opening of the International Festival “Sharq Taronalari” was held at the Registan square.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated at the opening ceremony and welcomed the guests of the event.

Uzbek leader said: “I am very happy on behalf of the people of Samarkand and on behalf of our entire nation to convey our warmest greetings and kind wishes to all participants of this truly rare and unique festival of music and art by saying: “Welcome to Uzbekistan! Welcome to Samarkand!”.

“I believe no one can deny the idea that music is a great divine power which constantly calls a man upon goodness, awakens the most tender and the most beautiful feelings in any person’s heart,” he said.

“Indeed, it is truly difficult to find such a strong tool as music which would link the people of various countries and nationalities, languages and beliefs to one another without any translation and which would unite them along the path of reaching the common objectives,” Uzbek President noted.

“This year we are holding the peculiar jubilee – the Tenth Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival. I think that the following fact alone testifies about a lot: since founding of the festival in 1997 the geography of partaker countries has considerably expanded and their number increased twofold – from 31 to 66,” he said.

“The participation of unique talents and famous music groups from the tens of countries of Asia and Africa, Europe and America, the East and West in this festival vividly demonstrates that during the past short period of time our contest has won fame throughout the world and its authority, respect and prestige has ever been growing,” Islam Karimov underlined.

“At the core of the aforementioned there are, above all, the highest humanistic ideas of this festival. Certainly, it makes all of us happy that the expression with a deep meaning “the spirit and philosophy of Samarkand” contributes to ever consolidating the ties of friendship among nations, developing the cultural dialogue and preserving the traditions of classical music,” Karimov stated.

“As we meet with you in this city which opens up the indelible pages of the ancient history, the city which gained a great recognition as “Eternal City” like Rome, we deeply feel how the time full of various problems and contradictions is now rapidly changing and how fiercely it is passing by,” Uzbek head said.