On March 25, a regular meeting of the Government Commission for compatriots abroad was held in Moscow under the chairmanship of Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
The Chairman of the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg Evgeny Grigoriev represented St. Petersburg at the meeting.
The meeting discussed the activities of the Executive authorities of the Russian Federation on the implementation of state policy towards compatriots abroad in 2018. It was stressed that St. Petersburg was among the three traditional leaders in working with compatriots, thanks to the accumulated international relations and significant resources. St. Petersburg continues to be a leader in the development of educational programs and projects aimed at attracting compatriots from abroad.
The Russian foreign Ministry also noted the fruitful joint work with the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg on the transfer of fiction in Russian for young compatriots living in the Baltic States, where the traditional projects of the Committee – the new year's performances "St. Petersburg fairy tale".
The participants of the meeting reviewed the implementation of the State program to assist the voluntary resettlement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad (state Program). Work on improving the mechanisms for the implementation of the state Program will be continued in the framework of the action plan for implementation in 2019-2025. Concepts of the state migration policy of the Russian Federation.
At the meeting, the Commission discussed the preparation of the world conference of compatriots, which is scheduled for autumn 2019. Particular attention will be paid to the preparation for the 2020 commemorative events dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory in the great Patriotic war. A separate topic of the Conference will be the role of compatriots in preserving the traditional values of Russian society, the Russian language, culture and education.
The Russian world Foundation informed the participants of the meeting about its experience of interaction with compatriots living abroad.
Reference information:
The government Commission for compatriots abroad is a coordinating body of the Government of the Russian Federation that ensures coordinated actions of the Federal Executive authorities and Executive authorities 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, preparation of recommendations for public authorities on improving public policy towards compatriots, development of proposals to improve the regulatory framework.
Since 2005, St. Petersburg has been a permanent subject of the Russian Federation, represented in the Commission. The work of the Commission ensures coordinated actions of the concerned Executive authorities in the implementation of the state policy of Russia in relation to compatriots living abroad.
Representatives of the Committee for external relations of St. Petersburg take part in the meetings of the Commission on a regular basis.