Russia, Moscow, Oct. 31 / Trend E. Huseynov /
The International Congress of Russian-language broadcasters opened in Moscow on Monday.
The broadcasters have organised the forum in conjunction with the support of the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in his welcoming speech to delegates: "The Russian language is a unique instrument of the international and inter-civilizational dialogue and an effective factor in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation in the modern world.
"Efforts to consolidate the Russian-speaking space, made with the assistance of the media community deserve profound respect.
"I am convinced that the Congress, which has built up from the tradition of festivals held at Russian radio stations, will be an important event for our countrymen and compatriots living abroad."
Taking part in the International Congress of Russian-language broadcasters in Moscow are more than 60 printed and electronic media outlets, as well as television and radio stations from more than 30 countries.
The Congress stressed that today Russia has given a substantial amount of humanitarian support to almost 30 million Russian diaspora abroad. It preserves the Russian language and culture in the CIS countries and abroad. At the moment, more than 300 radio stations broadcasting in Russian operate outside the country and more than 300 million people in 80 world countries read Russian-language newspapers.
The Russian President's special representative Mikhail Shvydkoi said that the work to preserve the Russian language in the CIS countries and bring the Russian language to an audience of foreign countries is complex. It requires great ingenuity and creative efforts.
The head of the "Russian world" foundation Vyacheslav Nikonov said that there is a renaissance of the Russian language in the CIS countries, Eastern European, Baltic countries and even in the U.S. for the past few years. In this regard, one of the main tasks of convening the Congress of the independent Russian-language media outlets is the consolidation of compatriots and the preservation of their ethnic and cultural identity and the Russian-speaking area.
The Congress plans to develop the strategy and tactics to enhance cooperation of the Russian diaspora and media outlets working abroad for their effective integration into the global media sphere.
Round-table discussions will be held to establish further cooperation and assistance to Russian-language broadcasters abroad. A draft action "World Census of the Russian Diaspora in foreign countries" was presented within the forum.
Azerbaijan is represented by Trend news agency international cooperation director Elchin Huseynov and Day.Az Radio director Zaur Darabzade within the Congress.