On learning that the Ukrainian delegation would not be arriving to take part in the 15 th International Festival [“Slavic Bazaar,”] the Belarusian side regarded the fact as cause for international scandal. After all, when the Slavic Bazaar idea was conceived, its standing orders read that it is meant to unite three fraternal peoples, whose friendship and talent are still admired by visitors to Vitebsk from post-Soviet and Western countries.
Annually this festival has included the Day of Ukraine. This year it was supposed to be arranged by stage director Vasyl Vovkun. The scenario included a children’s music contest and Vitebsk ‘06 Youth Pop Song Contest. What is there to prevent Ukraine from taking part in this festival? The thing is that the Law of Ukraine “On Changes to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Purchases of Goods, Works, and Services at State Expense’ and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine” took effect this March. The government is trying to use it to place budget funds’ managers in rigid conditions and under central control. Taking part in the Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk is also financed by the central budget, as part of the “services” expense item. Under this law the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine had to approve this participation’s budget and then announce an open tender on at least one of [the official] Web sites, specifying the deadlines. However, in the absence of clear-cut bidding procedures meant for such cultural occasions, the ministry delegated festival arrangements to its old good partner, the State Concert Agency “Ukraine” (it had coped with the task over the fourteen years of the Bazaar’s existence). Yet this time the culture ministry says it won’t work.
Ukraine Agency director Yaroslav Hutsko complains: “Without this tender the state can only entrust [us] with projects whose budgets do not surpass 30,000 hryvnias. For example, Ukraine’s participation in Slavic Bazaar ‘05 cost 400,000 hryvnias. At present, having this thirty thousand hryvnias at our disposal, we could probably deliver our performers as far as Obukhiv,” complains... We have to include in our budget the traveling and hotel accommodation expenses. By the way, what we actually earn makes up a small part of this item. It is also true, however, that our country has been contributing less money to this festival than Russia and Belarus, although at the beginning the festival was planned to be held on a parity basis. The festival host has put up with our ‘poverty,’ but they refuse to put up with our ignoring the occasion.”
Vladimir Rylatko, First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, believes that “Ukraine’s non-participation in the Vitebsk Slavic Bazaar will add fuel to the fire of those trying to incite a spirit of enmity between our countries. We expected that President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine would attend the 15 th anniversary of the festival. Last year he forwarded a heartfelt message of greetings to the festival. It was read out from the stage of the Summer Amphitheater and broadcast live. I think that Ukraine’s participation in Vitebsk Slavic Bazaar has a political meaning. If your Ministry of Culture and Tourism is unable to solve this problem, it is necessary to appeal directly to the political leadership. Without Ukraine, this festival will lose its meaning, prestige, even its name...”
In conjunction with the enactment of the Law “On Purchases of Goods, Works, and Services at State Expense,” the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine predicted lower macroeconomic indices and did not even rule out higher inflation rates. However, few if any could predict that this would bring Ukrainian culture to a standstill. In fact, Ukraine faces the threat of non-participation in the Vitebsk Slavic Bazaar and of failing to properly celebrate the Constitution Day, because such projects are to be financed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, yet no tenders have been announced. Ministry bureaucrats are going through the motions of making up for the delay, but it is too late. The deadlines of submitting ads and announcements on the Internet have been exhausted.
