CONFERENCE OF RUSSIAN COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH CAUCASUS OPENS IN BAKU
A two-day regional conference of Russian communities of the South Caucasus commenced on April 12 at the Park Inn hotel in Baku. Along with up to 50 representatives of the Russian communities of the region, the event is attended by those of the Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Migration Service, as well as the government of Moscow and Moscow House of Compatriots.
Before the conference began, its participants visited the Alley of Honors to commemorate national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. At the Alley of Martyrs, they paid respect to those who died for independence and territorial integrity of the country.
Opening the conference head of the Russian community of Azerbaijan, member of Milli Majlis Mikhail Zabelin stressed the importance of the meeting saying it will be mainly focused on the issues relating to strengthening of Russian communities’ ties with Russia, safeguarding of their historic and cultural originality and the use of potential of the diaspora organizations in social life of the countries they live.
Vasiliy Istratov, a Russian Ambassador in Azerbaijan, called on the participants of the conference to make decisions helping the Russian communities in the South Caucasus coordinate their activities towards propaganda of the Russian language and culture, and be more actively involved in socio-political life in their countries.
Representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Chepurin thanked the leadership of Azerbaijan for the conditions created to conduct the conference, and read out a letter of greetings from Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The conference will continue its work on April 13, and adopt a final resolution pointing to ways of strengthening interaction among Russian communities of the South Caucasus.
