OSCE celebrates in Armenia the 120th anniversary of Marc Chagall's birth

YEREVAN, 6 July 2007 - Promoting tolerance in Armenia through cultural exchange is the aim of a festival in memory of Russian-born French artist Marc Chagall opening tomorrow with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. The festival will last until 15 July.

Chagall, born on 7 July 1887 in a humble and devout Jewish family in what is now Belarus, once said: "The principle of my work is that I love people, and love each person separately." The events aim to raise awareness and build bridges of understanding through history, culture, traditions, and art regardless of race and nation.

"Fostering tolerance in OSCE countries is one of the obligations and conditions ensuring stability in Europe and protection of democratic institutions," said Jeannette Kloetzer, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "Over the past years, the OSCE has significantly stepped up its efforts to combat intolerance, reaffirming the view that all persons are equal and that there is no place for discrimination, hate and xenophobia in a democracy."

The festival includes a presentation of Karen Grigoryan's book on Marc Chagall's life and art, an exhibition of young artists' works, the premiere screening of the short documentary, "Angel on the Roofs," a musical composition about the painter's life to be introduced by Armenian script writer and performer Anna Mikaelyan, and several seminars on modern art with the participation of Armenian artists and art critics.

The festival is an initiative of the local NGO "Menora" Jewish Cultural Centre, with the support of Public TV and Radio, ArmenAkob TV, Antares Media holding and the Shen Taniq NGO.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening of the festival tomorrow, 7 July, at 20:00 at Nairi Cinema.