Russian compatriots in Europe gather for conference.

VIENNA, April 4 (Itar-Tass) - The main task in working with
compatriots residing abroad consists in maintaining links with them rather
than in trying to return them home.
"Our compatriots living abroad should feel that their Motherland is
near, that we are a single whole, a single 'Russian world', Tatyana
Mishukovskaya, the head of department for international humanitarian
cooperation of the federal agency 'Rossotrudnichestvo' told Itar-Tass. She
is taking part in a two-day regional conference of the chairmen of
coordinating councils of Russian compatriots in European countries.
"In cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and
several other agencies we are developing a concept, 'Russian School
Abroad', Mishukovskaya went on to say.
The problem is so serious and important that it was reflected in a
resolution of the World Congress of Compatriots. The development of this
concept will help solving many issues linked to education of the children
of Russian compatriots so that they could preserve the Russian language,
Russian culture or, as we say, national and cultural identity.
Preservation of national and cultural identity of children of Russian
compatriots will dominate a meeting of the governmental commission for the
affairs of compatriots residing abroad to be held in Moscow on April 8
under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"Russian cultural and scientific centers operating abroad are
important elements of our work with the Russian Diaspora," Mishukovskya
went on to say.
"They offer Russian-language courses, hold cultural events and
conferences. They also work with young people and support compatriots. We
receive many letters of gratitude and interesting proposals on how we
should build cooperation. We try to implement useful ideas," Mishukovskaya
said.
On the eve of the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic
War of 1941-1945 Rossotrudnichestvo is attracting youngsters and children
of Russian compatriots to participation in such events. A large group of
young people may come to Moscow and other Russian cities. They will visit
the former battlefields and take part in conferences on the subject of the
Great Patriotic War.
Representatives of Russian-speaking communities from almost all
European countries located to the west of the borders of the former Soviet
Union are taking part in the two-day regional conference.
"A discussion of issues related to the celebrations of the 65th
anniversary of the Great Patriotic War has raised enormous interest,"
Alexander Chepurin, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry
Department for work with compatriots, told Itar-Tass.
"Practically all countries are preparing to this event, and we are
doing our best to support this work so that our compatriots, especially
veterans, could feel the glory and greatness of this holiday," Chepurin
said.
Tatyana Zhdanok, a European Parliament deputy from Latvia, is planning
to bring more than 20 war veterans from Latvia to Vienna on April 13, the
day of its liberation by Soviet troops.
"This is not a tour," she told Itar-Tass. "The veterans know how
Europe is distorting the WWII history and how the role of the Soviet
soldier and the Red Army are being underestimated. And they are ready to
tell how it really was," Tatyana Zhdanok said.

.The 9th Moscow Easter festival to open in Moscow on Sunday.

MOSCOW, April 4 (Itar-Tass) - The ninth Moscow Easter festival will
open at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire on Sunday. Like in
previous years, the festival has been inspired and organized by maestro
Valery Gergiyev. He and the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre as well as
pianist Denis Matsuyev will give an opening concert on Sunday evening.
This year the Easter festival is devoted to the 65th anniversary of
Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
The festival's program include almost all symphonies by Shostakovich.
"He is one of the outstanding witnesses of that era," Gergiyev said. Some
tickets to the concert have been distributed free of charge.
"In the year of the jubilee anniversary of Victory I wish that the
greatest number of veterans of the Great Patriotic War could hear our
concerts, including on radio and television," Gergiyev went on to say.
More than a thousand performers from Russia and 12 foreign countries
will participate in the festival. They include the Choir of the Swedish
Radio and muisicians from France, Italy, Ukraine, Belarus, Abkhazia,
Armenia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece. Concerts will be held in 30 Russian
cities and in the capital of Lithuania - Vilnius.
Patriarch Kirill will attend the opening of the festival choral
program on April 5. Choral concerts and bell ringings will be held in 46
Moscow churches.
Traditionally, the 9th Moscow Easter festival will end on the
Poklonnaya Hill memorial on May 9.

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