ST. PETERSBURG, November 17. /TASS/. Participants in the 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum adopted a declaration and agreed to oppose sanctions, boycotts, bans and cancellations by racial and ethnic features, according to the document seen by TASS.

"Supporting rights of citizens and peoples to take pleasure in the arts and participate in the cultural life and have access to the global cultural heritage, we call <…> to oppose use of unlawful unilateral approaches in the sphere of culture and arts in the form of sanctions, boycotts, bans and cancellations by racial, ethnic and language features," the document reads.

Forum participants also urge to respect the diversity in systems of values of states and nations, speak against forcing up false values of mass culture, and use national and multilateral opportunities to condemn and prevent racism-based approaches in the sphere of culture and arts.

Readiness was expressed according to the declaration to take part in forming the common international infrastructure required to support national branches of culture and arts of countries - Forum participants, and provide for development of cultural cooperation.

The 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum is being held from November 16 to 18. TASS is the general information partner, the official press center operator, and the official photohost agency of the Forum.