He was speaking at the Belfast Mela Festival in Botanic Gardens today where he observed a variety of different cultures – from Bollywood dancing to an Indian Apache band.
Mr Donaldson said: “In recent years our society has become more and more diverse and today’s festivities give a clear message of how this diversity has enriched all our lives.
“For more than a decade we have been experiencing a growing cultural diversity as people from all over Europe, from all over the world make their home here. This is a welcome development, and a positive sign that things are genuinely beginning to change for the better.”
The Belfast Mela was also the setting for Northern Ireland’s celebrations of the Olympic Handover from Beijing 2008 to London 2012 and Mr Donaldson spoke of his hopes for Northern Ireland’s role in the run up to the Olympics.
“It is very appropriate that the Mela should be the host of Northern Ireland’s Olympic Handover celebrations today. The Olympics is the world’s largest culturally and ethnically diverse event.
“Today’s celebration is just the start of four years of Olympic activities and I hope that all of our young people in Northern Ireland will find a way of becoming inspired by and involved with London 2012.”
The Mela was organised by Belfast based charity ArtsEkta and part funded by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
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