AKIPRESS.COM - The drawing exhibition "Imagining European Union" opened in Bishkek-based exhibition hall of the national union of artists on May 4. The exhibition concluded two-month-long drawing contest organized by the Delegation of the European Union for the schoolchildren throughout the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic said.

Both events were dedicated to celebration of the Day of Europe and 60th anniversary of the European Union. Within two months of the contest moreover 300 drawings were submitted by schoolchildren aged 7-16 years old. 170 of them have been displayed at the exhibition, which opened today in Bishkek with the participation of Head of the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic Cesare De Montis.

In his opening speech Ambassador De Montis reminded that after six decades of peace, prosperity and security the European Union became a major international player and one of the main partners of the Kyrgyz Republic.

"One of the main sectors of our cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic is education, which we support by providing financial assistance. Thus we invest into the future of the country. Taking into account successful cooperation in the education sector and our desire to strengthen bilateral cultural ties, we organized this drawing contest in order to increase the knowledge of school children, their parents and teachers about the European Union, its culture, history, and geography. We are sure that children, who participated in the contest, will grow up with a better understanding of what the EU is, its values, goals and principles," the Head of the EU Delegation said.

Following the opening speeches 26 winners of the contest were awarded with prizes provided by the EU Delegation. The exhibition will run until May 15.