Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sends his greetings to participants at the 5th Assembly of the Russian World Foundation
The message reads, in part:
"Your traditional meetings are always remarkable and memorable events in the public life of Russia and other countries. They have emerged as representative assemblies of those who cherish Russia, maintain spiritual links with it, and seek to make a personal contribution to the attainment of our common objectives. St Petersburg is playing host to participants in and guests of the fifth anniversary assembly, welcoming scientists, figures in culture and the arts, prominent politicians and journalists from more than 70 countries.
"In this connection I would like to mark the consolidating role of the Russian World Foundation and the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, their versatile and highly essential effort to implement significant educational and charitable projects, to establish Russian centres and to support our compatriots abroad. And, of course, a most sincere recognition of the organisational initiatives directed at popularizing the Russian language and Russian culture and at expanding the general Russian-language information space. These activities are important for strengthening international humanitarian contacts and for enhancing Russia's prestige in the world."
