VITEBSK, Belarus- The Slavonic Bazaar held its 33rd festival in the Belarusian city of Vitebsk on Thursday evening. 

The festival was opened by President Alexander Lukashenko, who called Vitebsk the heart of the Belarusian culture, Tehran Times correspondent in Vitebsk reported.

The event will last for a few days. 

The Slavonic Bazaar is intended to promote the “dialogue of culture, peace and understanding” through art from different countries. 

Zimbabwe was the special guest of the festival. 

Throughout the festival Belarus tries to make other countries familiar about its culture and traditions. 

On Friday, culture ministers from the countries member to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) also held a meeting on the sidelines of the event to highlight cultural peculiarities of their respective countries. 

Tehran’s ambassador to Minsk represented Iran at the SCO meeting.   

Ambassador Alireza Sane'ei, addressing the conference on Friday, said as the SCO countries enjoy rich civilization, they can also play important roles in the areas of culture and art to send the message of "peace and unity" to all countries in the world. 

The ambassador also said the Islamic Republic of Iran hopes that by next year when Belarus will hold its 34th festival "the war in the region has come to an end". The ambassador was openly referring to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Historically, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are called three "Slavic Sisters".

Sane'ei also said Iran welcomes the full membership of Belarus in the SCO which will help to develop the bloc both "qualitatively and quantitatively”.