The conference was held in Town Bled (Slovenia) on April 27 and 28, 2012.
The conference was held in Town Bled (Slovenia) on April 27 and 28, 2012.
St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations took part in the VI Regional Conference of the compatriots living in Europe by the invitation of the European Coordinating Councils of Compatriots.
The conference heard the speeches of Doku Zavgayev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Slovenia, Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of Russian Federation on International Cultural Cooperation, Vasiliy Likhachev, Member of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, Alexander Chesnokov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Alexander Chepourin, Director of the Department for Cooperation with Compatriots at Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Igor Panevkin, Director of the Foundation to support and protect the rights of compatriots, Vasiliy Istratov, Deputy Executive Director of the “Russian World Foundation”, Vera Sakharova, Head of the Management of St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations.
The conference was attended by the delegates and guests from 34 European countries. They represented the associations of Russian compatriots in Europe, as well as Russian public and state organizations, and mass media.
The agenda of the conference was devoted to issues of concern to the Russian diaspora: consolidation and improvement of the interaction between various organizations of compatriots, the position of Russian minority and Russian language in Europe, strengthening the relations with Russia.
The problems of interaction with the authorities of the countries of residence were discussed, as well as restructuring the coordinating councils in European countries, the cooperation of organizations of compatriots with the newly-established Foundation for supporting and protecting the rights of compatriots.
During the conference, Vera Sakharova, Head of the Management of St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations, presented the experience of cooperation between St.Petersburg Government and the federal authorities in implementing the state policy concerning the compatriots abroad.
In particular, she noted: “Numerous projects and activities carried out by our city, were positively evaluated by the experts and representatives of the Russian diaspora, while the experience of the St.Petersburg Government in this area was recommended to the regions of the Russian Federation for usage in the development and implementation of regional programs to support compatriots.
Significant results in the interaction with compatriots were reached by the city during the fulfillment of a three-year program to implement the state policy of the Russian Federation concerning the compatriots abroad, adopted in 2008.
Since 2011, a new city program ‘Compatriots’ has been operating. The events, held in St.Petersburg with the financial and organizational support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are annually attended by over 1,000 compatriots from 50 countries worldwide.
By now, a stable system of horizontal and vertical linkages of public associations of compatriots with St.Petersburg is built. Engaged are the intellectual and cultural resources of the city - the institutions of science, culture, education, social organizations, the business community are involved”.
During the conference, a series of business conversations were held with the chairpeople of Coordinating Council of Compatriots Living in European countries.
On April 27, there was a business visit to the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Ljubljana. RCSC is located in the center of the Slovenian capital, has been working exactly for one year, and is one of the most functional and modern Russian centers of science and culture abroad.
An acquaintance was established with Rifat Pateev, Head of RCSC, and the staff employees. During the conversation with the Head of the Center, the prospects were discussed to use the site and the resources of the center for organizing various St.Petersburg-driven events for the Russia-originated residents of the Balkan states. It was agreed to hold the joint activities of the Government of St.Petersburg and Rossotrudnichestvo on development of cultural, scientific, educational, and business links with Russia and St.Petersburg for the compatriots living in Slovenia and neighbouring countries in 2013.
A business meeting with Igor Romanov, Director of the Russian House in Maribor, took place.
Russian center in Maribor was opened with the support of the “Russian World Foundation” in May of 2011. A strong interest in Russian language and culture was indicated by the Slovenes of all ages and professions in the city and the county – from schoolchildren to retirees, from service workers to noticeable businesspeople.
Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet republics, living in the region, have expressed their interest in teaching the Russian language for the children from mixed families
Maribor is the twin city of St.Petersburg. On April 1 through 4, 2012, the Days of St.Petersburg were run in Maribor, including an extensive cultural and business programs.
In the near future, Russian House in Maribor will be given the sets of literature on the Northern Capital on behalf of St.Petersburg Government, and the cooperation in the promotion of Russian language and Russian culture will be started.
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Internet portal of the Governmental program of St.Petersburg “Compatriots”: www.sprumir.ru