On June 25, 2019, in Moscow, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, a regular meeting of the Government Commission on Compatriots Abroad was held.
St. Petersburg was represented at the meeting by Sergey Markov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg.
In the course of the report on the results of state monitoring in the field of relations with compatriots abroad in 2018, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted a significant contribution to the work to support compatriots, which is traditionally made by St. Petersburg, Moscow and Tatarstan. The st Petersburg forum of youth associations of Russian compatriots and foreign Russian-language media “Russian Abroad” was recognized as one of the most significant international educational forums in Russia. (The event is held under the auspices of the Commission with the assistance of Russian overseas agencies along with organizations of compatriots abroad).
Another issue on the agenda was the results of the work of Russian overseas institutions to implement the tasks of state policy to support compatriots, which follow from the decisions of the VI World Congress of Compatriots, and, above all, relate to the protection of their legal rights and interests in countries of residence.
The meeting also summed up the work of the Fund for Support and Protection of the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad in 2018 and in the first half of 2019. Agreed measures to further improve the effectiveness of this work, including its material support. Information was received by the Government of Moscow on the experience of interaction with compatriots living abroad. The preparations for the main youth event under the auspices of the Commission in 2019, the fifth World Youth Forum of Compatriots (Sofia, Bulgaria), were examined.
Also, during the meeting, the Commission considered and approved the candidacies of Russian foreign compatriots for awarding state awards of the Russian Federation.
For reference:
The Governmental Commission for Compatriots Abroad is the coordinating body of the Government of the Russian Federation, ensuring coordinated actions by the concerned federal executive bodies and executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation on this issue. The tasks of the Commission include summarizing the experience of the executive authorities in the direction of compatriots, preparing recommendations for public authorities on improving public policy regarding compatriots, and developing proposals for improving the regulatory framework.
Since 2005, St. Petersburg is a permanent constituent entity of the Russian Federation represented on the Commission. The work of the Commission ensures the coordinated actions of interested executive bodies in implementing the state policy of Russia in relation to compatriots living abroad.
Representatives of the Committee on External Relations of St. Petersburg participate in the meetings of the Commission on an ongoing basis.