Russia, Moscow, Nov. 1 / Trend E. Huseynov /
Moscow plans to take measures to consolidate the Russian-speaking world, head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Naryshkin said today.
"We will continue to support our project to consolidate the Russian-speaking population," he said at the opening of the Second International Russian-Language Radio Station Festival in Moscow.
The festival will run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.
The International Association of Russian-Speaking Broadcasters and Golos Rossii radio station are holding the festival with the support of the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of CIS Member States.
Numerous public states and private Russian-language radio stations were invited from the CIS, Europe, Asia and the United States. Representatives from over 20 countries are participating in the project. All of the stations are united by their use of the Russian language and their interest in life in Russia and the Russian diaspora today.
Noting that there are 8-10 million listeners among the stations across the world, Naryshkin called for intensifying discussions on forming a partnership within the year-old association.
The first festival was held last year and dedicated to the eightieth anniversary of Russian foreign broadcasting. The event showed that there is a clear demand for establishing closer ties among Russian-language radio stations and boosting professional collaboration.
The association is supported by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and was established upon the initiative of the first festival's participants. The association aims to consolidate the foreign Russian-language media community through content sharing, joint projects and legal support.
An Internet project will be presented during the festival. The portal is designed for members of the association - Russian-language radio, television and online channels in over 30 countries - and will help them to interact more effectively. Radio programs will be uploaded onto the portal as a means of exchanging information. Operational reports, interviews, photos and video materials will also be disseminated. Members will also have access to an archive of thematic programs on politics, society and culture in participating countries.
News and stories about the Russian diaspora will be posted on the portal. Joint creative projects will also be created. The material will be posted to provide legal and advisory assistance to overcome administrative and licensing barriers while developing Russian-language broadcasting abroad.
The project aims to help Russian-speaking representatives of foreign media to develop mutual humanitarian ties to maintain a Russian-speaking common cultural space.