Nalchik has become the festival capital of the South Federal District for several days. Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria is hosting a meeting of the Coordination Council on Culture for the first time. Ruslan Firov, the Minister of Culture of Kabardino-Balkaria initiated revival of the International Folk Festival "Dances above Elbrus" and holding the third All-Russia festival of news programs "Peace. Accord. Unity".   

Festive opening of the Festival took place yesterday at Zeleny Theatre. Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alexander Avdeev, President of KBR Arsen Kanokov, representatives of all Russian regions, members of the KBR government visited the ceremony.  The main goal of the Festival is to increase the level of tolerance in the society. Three leading folk dance groups "Kabardinka", "Balkaria", and "Terskiye kazaki" opened the concert. 

Alexander Avdeev greeted the participants and guests of the festival. He congratulated everybody on such an important event and said that one of the tasks of the Coordination Council on Culture is to take decisions which contribute to consolidation of inter-ethnic relations and reviving of national cultures of the Russian Federation thus strengthening its statehood. The Minister thanked the organizers of the festival for a considerable contribution to the cause of friendship, peace and mutual understanding between peoples.

"We want everybody to know that we shall preserve our traditions of hospitability, mutual deference and tolerance. Wisdom of the peoples who inhabit our land is the best guarantee" - said Arsen Kanokov. The President of KBR thanked the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation for attention and regular assistance that the Federal center renders in all initiatives. As an example he mentioned financing notwithstanding the crisis the reconstruction of three large cultural objects of the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria - Musical Theatre, National Museum and Resort Hall. On the eve of the holiday of the national costume Alexander Avdeev and Arsen Kanokov were presented white felt cloaks and papakhas. After that the concert of the participants of the festival "Dances above Elbrus" and local folk dance groups began.  

The Director of the Russian Folk Center Anatoly Kargin said: "The festival was supposed to celebrate a 15^th anniversary. But due to certain circumstances it hasn't been held since 1994. We are reviving it today. The Festival was planned to "sew together" the cultural space of the North Caucasus. We revive this mission today and I am sure it is a step of great importance. The Caucasus must stop to be known only as a region of emergency situations in the eyes of Europeans and Russians".      

A spectacular water-pyrotechnic show above the mirror-like surface of the lake Trek concluded the festive program of the opening, every number of which was met with a storm of applause. 

The Festival will last for three days. The people of the republic will be able to know bright and original cultures of peoples, presented at the program of the Festival. The Guests and members of the Coordination Council will know customs, traditions and way of life of the peoples of the North Caucasus.