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Azerbaijanâ€™s Russian Community holds 3rd congress

06 November 2009 10:31 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. The 3rd congress of Azerbaijanâ€™s Russian Community is being held in Baku, APA reports. Head of the community, MP Mikhail Zabelin said 300 out of 320 representatives attend the congress. Chief of socio-political department of the Presidential Office Ali Hasanov, vice-speaker of the parliament Valeh Alasgarov, members of the parliament, representatives of Russian parliament, Moscow government, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin, former ambassador Vasili Istratov, head of the Presidium of the International Council of Russian Compatriots Count Pyotr Sheremetev, President of the Prince Dimitri Romanov Charity Fund Dmitry Romanov and others are honorable guests.

Ali Hasanov read President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s letter to the participants of the congress. The letter reads that the biggest Russian community in the South Caucasus is in Azerbaijan, this is the example of the tolerance in Azerbaijan. President notes that the rights and freedoms of all national minorities are ensured in the country, conditions have been created to protect their national, cultural values and mentions that the Russian community bore the loss for Azerbaijanâ€™s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said tolerance is very high in Azerbaijan.
â€œThere is high level social tolerance in Azerbaijan. All conditions have been created for the protection of the national, cultural values of the national minorities in the country. Russian community does not function on paper, Russian government has always offered and will offer assistance to the Russian community,â€ he said.
Baku and Caspian Eparchy bishop Alexander said the Russians are voting citizens of Azerbaijan. â€œThe multi-nationality is a wealth of Azerbaijan and Russian community is a part of this realityâ€.

Member of the parliament Mikhail Zabelin spoke about the work done over the past five years. â€œThe education of Russian language in the Azerbaijani schools was extended in this period and 50 schools began to carry out the project of deep learning the Russian. On the communityâ€™s initiative, the Russian embassy in Azerbaijan assisted the installation of satellite receivers in the houses of 120 pensioners and 35 people a year were sent to the Moscow for treatment. 180 veterans and lonely old people are receiving material aid. The schools are provided with the Russian literature and manual books. Azerbaijani people was always tolerant, but our great mistake is that we donâ€™t learning Azerbaijani, the national language of Azerbaijan. We have to attach much attention to this issue. It will be impossible to integrate into the society without knowledge of Azerbaijani languageâ€. The community leader said there was no any law in Azerbaijan, which could violate rights of other nationals.

Then by the order of Moscow Mayor Yuriy Lujkov representative of the Moscow government Alexei Yesipenko awarded Mikhail Zabelin with commemorative of Moscow government for his contribution to the development of international relations.

The inspection and mandate commissions submitted their reports and heads of different commissions and local organizations of the community addressed the congress. The community will elect its leader and new members of the communityâ€™s Republican Council.