HONORING THE MEMORY OF A POET

A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the monument to the outstanding Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko on the occasion of the 209th anniversary of his birth in the square near the building of school No. 110, in Tashkent.The event was attended by senior officials of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries, prominent figures of culture and art, representatives of national cultural centers, the public, as well as journalists. The solemn event was organized by the Republican Ukrainian Cultural Center “Slavutych”.The Chairman of the Republican Ukrainian Cultural Center “Slavutych” Volodymyr Boyko noted that the name Taras Shevchenko sounds as natural in Uzbek literature as in his native Ukrainian, being part of the culture of Uzbekistan people. The strong friendship and deep sympathy of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Ukraine are convincingly evidenced by the fact that one of the streets of Tashkent was named after Taras Shevchenko.It is symbolic that in 2003, with the participation of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Ukraine, a monument to the great son of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko was solemnly opened on this street. It was created by the talented sculptor Nikolay Ryabtsev.Another monument to the poet was opened in Navoi region in the center of Zarafshan. All this indicates that in Uzbekistan they know how to honor not only their great ancestors, but also geniuses, whose immortal works are a valuable contribution to world culture.“It is gratifying to realize that Taras Shevchenko left a rich creative heritage for all mankind”, Mr. Boyko noted. He expressed his deep gratitude to the leadership of Uzbekistan for the national policy, which guarantees peace and tranquility in the country and interethnic harmony of citizens of different nations and nationalities living in this land.“I have been living in Uzbekistan for 44 years now and consider it my Motherland”, Zinaida Solovey, People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, Honored Artist of Ukraine said. – The greatest wealth is peace, friendship and interethnic harmony that prevail in our country.After the official part of the event, flowers were laid at the monument, poems and songs were sung in Ukrainian.UzA