BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/10/2007

Council of public organisations of Russians set up in Belarus

MINSK, October 7 (Itar-Tass) - The Coordination Council of leaders of non-government organisations of Russian fellow countrymen was set up in Belarus. The decision was taken by delegates of the first Belarussian republican conference of Russian fellow countrymen that ended in the Belarussian capital on Saturday.

"The republic has nine registered non-government organisations of Russian fellow countrymen," Itar-Tass learnt from counselor of the Russian embassy in Belarus Alexander Lomakin. "These organisations often duplicated their activities, and each of them pursued its own interests.

"Following the establishment of the Coordination Council, Russian countrymen, living in Belarus, can consolidate their efforts in conducting various public and scientific actions, aimed at preserving and multiplying traditions of Russian culture".

The Russian diplomat also noted that the Russian embassy, assisted by the Coordination Council, could support fellow countrymen more efficiently, learn better their life, aspirations and problems.

Besides, Lomakin continued, the first meeting of the Coordination Council was held right after the conference. The meeting elected chairman of the Belarussian non-government association Rus Ivan Korda as head of the Council. He will also represent Belarus at the World Coordination Council of Russian Fellow Countrymen.

The Council meeting also discussed the first major joint measures. Belarussian organisations of Russian countrymen decided to concentrate their efforts, above all, on preparing the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. Along with the above, a scientific conference, devoted to the 50th anniversary of the lift-off of the first man-made earth's satellite, will be prepared in Vitebsk.

Incidentally, it is planned to hold the roundtable "Russian language - first language used in outer space" on the sidelines of the conference. A scientific conference in Gomel will be devoted to the Russian language, its history and the role of Mikhail Lomonosov in the development of the language.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11942373&PageNum=0

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