The seventh regional conference of expats residing in Africa and the Middle East was held on April 18 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A wide range of issues were discussed – above all, the teaching of Russian and dissemination of Russian culture. Speaking at the conference was Russian Ambassador to South Africa M.I. Petrakov, Vice Chairman of the Committee for International Affairs at the RF Federation Council A.A. Klimov, member of the same Committee I.N. Morozov, director of the department for work with compatriots of Russia's MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) A.A. Makarov, Assistant Executive Director of the Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Abroad P. Ivanov, representative of Rossotrudnichestvo A.G. Vinogradov, regional director for Asia and Africa and head of regional projects administration at the Russkiy Mir Foundation Georgy Toloraya.
The expats thanked the Russkiy Mir Foundation for the opening of Russian language centers in South Africa, Congo, Zambia, Kenya and Egypt. They expressed their desire to open new Russian Centers and Russkiy Mir Cabinets, so necessary for preservation and upkeep of Russian, in their countries. This aspiration is reflected in the resolution passed at the conference.
The remarks of Georgy Toloraya were devoted to problems connected with the dissemination of Russian in the region. He dwelled on the work carried out by the Russkiy Mir Foundation for the support of Russian in Africa and the Middle East. Special interest of the conference participants was roused by such projects of the Russkiy Mir Foundation as the Russkiy Mir Cabinet, providing grants to pay for the tuition of children in Russian-speaking families, sending qualified teachers from Russia to the region's universities. Participants of the conference expressed their wish to see a more uniform distribution of grants in terms of geography. Expats residing in this region are waiting for efficient help and support from the Russkiy Mir Foundation.
Mr. Toloraya emphasized that only by rallying the efforts of Russian experts and expats living in Africa and the Middle East is it possible to achieve remarkable results in such an important matter as preservation and strengthening of the positions of Russian language and culture in the region.
Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
