Dmitry Medvedev’s address at the Assembly:

Good morning, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very grateful for your invitation to address the VI Russkiy Mir Assembly. It is an excellent tradition to gather our compatriots in Moscow on the eve of Unity Day: teachers, scientists, cultural figures, representatives of the clergy – all those who make up a unique community of people who share a connection with our nation, with Russia, with our language, history and culture, our traditions and our values. To constantly support joint projects with our compatriots, to develop the Russian ethnic and cultural space is undoubtedly one of the state policy priorities. Personally I firmly believe that cooperation with our multi-million diaspora that spans all continents and very different walks of life will give Russia enormous advantages that may not be measured in any units, yet carry a huge potential. Allow me to dwell on some fundamental issues. 

First, the bond that unites us is not limited to our shared spiritual values, a desire to preserve our cultural and historical heritage. I also know that many of you here in this audience are united by your everyday work in this field, and for most of you this work has become your life’s mission. We truly appreciate your efforts to return to Russia the heritage of the émigré community, both family archives and works by Russian masters, many of which were at a certain point considered to be irrevocably lost. Our gratitude goes to all those who participate in the restoration of family estates, historical buildings, and books, who help to bring back our historical heritage. Your example enriches the image of Russia itself, of its culture and traditions. 

Second, I think it vitally important to pay special attention to work with our younger compatriots. Many of them only have hearsay knowledge of Russia through information products, yet it is on this generation that the future of the Russkiy Mir depends as does, to a considerable degree, the development of the global civilisation. That is why it is a good idea to take advantage of different forums and youth festivals, scientific and student exchanges, to study in Russia and travel around its historic places. I know that foreign offices of Rossotrunichestvo and the Russkiy Mir Foundation contribute a great deal in this direction. Incidentally, I would like to use this opportunity to invite our Russian-speaking young people to work at the upcoming international sports competitions to be hosted by Russia, and we are going to have plenty of them in the coming years: the 27^th Summer Universiade in Kazan next year, the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This will be a great opportunity to see the country and make friends, and that is the best foundation for enhancing the atmosphere of trust that we need so much. 

The third issue, though not in terms of its significance, of course, is the support of the Russian language, preserving its international standing. Russian is not just the language of our shared history and culture; it is the underlying foundation of the multi-million Russian world. For you it is a link to your historical homeland. As Alexander Kuprin once wrote, a language is the nation’s history, a trail of civilisation and culture. An interest in studying the Russian language, together with the Russian history and culture, has been constantly growing even in those countries where it has no legal rights, or, to put it plainly, where it has lost those rights. Nevertheless, there is still a great need for it in real life despite the limitations imposed by some nations’ policies, which is certainly a regrettable situation. However, I am confident that time will put everything in its right place. 

Today the command of the Russian language, as well as other foreign languages, gives a considerable advantage when competing for an interesting job. The economy is forcing us to shed the imposed political stereotypes. It is no accident that Russian language courses are among the most popular programmes at schools and universities in a number of countries, some of them very large countries. This may not be the right place to speak English, especially as it is not a language I speak well, but I just want to tell you: “It’s time to learn Russian.” Thank you for understanding this language.

Our shared task is to reinforce this positive trend. On our part, we have been paying and will continue to pay a great deal of attention to this issue at the state level. The Russian Language federal targeted programme is being implemented. It will last until 2015, and we will continue our efforts in the future. The Russian School Abroad language support programme is currently being drafted. A significant amount of work has been done by Rossotrudnichestvo at the Russian Science and Culture Centres that operate, as you will know, in 76 countries. I think that quality teaching of the Russian language and literature, upgrading the instructors’ teaching skills are a basis for preserving and developing the Russian-language space. Russian language teaching and promoting programmes should be based on the world’s best practices and the unique opportunities that exist in each country while education projects should focus both on children and adults.  

A separate promising direction is work with Russian language students. I would like to note in this context the activity of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, in particular its projects on setting up Russian language centres and classrooms. I am sure everyone in the audience is familiar with them; there are now 89 such centres and 117 classrooms across the world. They showcase books printed by Russia’s best publishers, teaching aids and language tutorials, and judging by what I have seen, they offer very comfortable conditions for studying Russian, although perfection knows no limits. By the way, I think one of the Foundation’s initiatives is very interesting. It’s called the Russkiy Mir Teacher and it is aimed at high level professionals who form teaching standards in their work around the world not only for the teaching of the Russian language but also for other humanities subjects as well. Such projects promote teachers’ mobility and deserve every possible support. But we should also explore the experience gained by our neighbours. Take the example of the Confucius Institute: each of its centres is patronised by a certain university. I believe we may consider setting up a patronage by our leading universities over the Russian centres. I think that would be good. 

Fourth. Economic incentives, alas, are as important for studying Russian as educational and cultural ones. A language is not just part of our spiritual values, but, excuse my pragmatism, a material asset that has to be invested into, invested heavily on some occasions, and it is desirable that the funding allocated for it should not be limited to government sources, nor only to Russian ones, though naturally our country will bear the bulk of the burden.  And regardless of budget limitations and the never-ending global economic crisis we will continue investing in teaching Russian and promoting the Russian world: we will publish books, we will make films and information products, we will support Russian language studies in different formats and on the whole, we will promote our great culture. I call on our compatriots to join us in that effort if they have the opportunity. 

Fifth. I believe the Russian world is destined to become a single information space – this is a global trend. Modern information society will always be competitive, and we can withstand competition if the volume of Russian language information is on a par with information in other languages both in terms quality and timing. It is a great challenge but we can tackle it successfully through pro-active and sound information policies of Russian universities and public organisations, the computerisation of library and museum funds, and expanding the online representation of the Russian language media.

Sixth. Russian communities have recently considerably strengthened their positions in a number of countries; they are cooperating successfully with the local authorities and business. Their public standing and the knowledge of the local situation can and should be utilised to deepen the mutually beneficial collaboration with those nations and to fill it with a more substantial content. It is crucial to support the activities of compatriots’ coordinating councils across the world and to expand their interaction at the regional level. I hope this will assist the Foreign Ministry and Rossotrudnichestvo, as well as Russian NGOs to focus on the most vital issues, including the protection of our compatriots’ rights and interests. This should become a priority for them. I’d like to stress that it means not only individual rights but also the integrated interests of Russian-speaking communities. I hope that the work of the Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad, which was set up earlier this year, will contribute to a radical improvement in the situation.

Friends, we have gathered today in the Column Hall of the House of Unions, which was earlier known as the Assembly of the Nobility. It has seen a great deal. The building was designed by architect Mikhail Kazakov in late 18^th century for the Moscow nobility. The ballroom, where we are now, has been described in many works of classical literature, including Eugene Onegin and War and Peace, and symphony concerts have been held here. All sorts of good things happened here but later the situation changed a bit. In 1924 the funeral service for Vladimir Lenin was held here, and in 1953 – for Joseph Stalin. The building hosted the congresses of the People’s Deputies of the USSR, writers’ and composers’ unions, Komintern congresses, and from 1948 it was a venue for chess competitions. Now it is hosting a Russkiy Mir Assembly. I don’t think it’s a bad use of the hall, is it?

The history of our nation is similarly filled with spectacular, at times absolutely dramatic events that can have various interpretations. But it is crucial to know those pages and preserve them for the generations to come, to be aware of one’s connectedness with this great country, its brilliant culture and spiritual values, to hand them over to the next generations – this is the historical mission of the Russkiy Mir Foundation.  I would like to emphasise that this is the essence of the Year of Russian History, which is in progress now, and not just to celebrate numerous anniversaries. I am certain that you share these feelings more than anyone else. Let me wish you and your families health and well-being. Come to Russia again and again!

Thank you. Good-bye!