The senator took part in a regional conference of Russian compatriots from the Asia-Pacific region
Andrei Klimov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, took part in the 14th regional conference of organisations of Russian compatriots from the Asia-Pacific region held on 26–27 February 2020 in New Delhi, India.
During his welcoming remarks, the senator noted that the preservation and development of the Russian language abroad, and supporting Russian compatriots are priorities for the Federation Council and the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He updated his audience on the Federation Council’s work aimed at supporting compatriots. In particular, according to Klimov, the idea of supporting Russian schools abroad through the development and implementation of a subprogramme within the state programme “Foreign Policy Activities” is being actively promoted in the upper house. A thorough discussion on this topic took place during the Government Hour session attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on 23 December 2019.
A twofold increase in government quotas for admitting foreign students to Russian universities is being successfully promoted, Andrei Klimov noted. Furthermore, the procedure for their employment in Russia during their studies has been simplified with the persistent advocacy of the Federation Council – a corresponding bill was introduced by a group of the Federation Council members and State Duma deputies following the 5th International Livadia Humanitarian Forum and signed by the President of Russia on 6 February 2020.
The senator reported a double increase in the Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad budget in 2020, also enabled by the rigorous lobbying of the upper house of the Russian parliament.
Touching upon the upcoming events to mark the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the end of WWII, Andrei Klimov noted the importance of the compatriots’ organisations’ work aimed at upholding the historical truth.
Admittedly, the ruling elites in certain countries are showing a uniquely vicious tendency to revise history. “They are doing this for the sake of purely internal interests,” the speaker said.
He also fully outlined for the conference participants the work on amending the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the idea of the amendments. The senator called on the compatriots to provide assistance in informing the Russian diasporas about the upcoming nationwide voting, and to actively come to the polling stations set up abroad.
The regional conference was attended by representatives of the coordination councils of compatriots of the Asia-Pacific region countries; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to India Nikolai Kudashov; Director of the Foreign Ministry Department for Relations with Compatriots Abroad Oleg Malginov, Rossdorodnichestvo representative in India Fyodor Rozovsky, as well as representatives of the Moscow Government and the Russian Orthodox Church.