The discussion focussed on preparations for a joint meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations and the Council on the Russian Language.
Mr Magomedov said the joint meeting of the two councils is to be dedicated to the implementation of the language policy in the Russian Federation and to the role of the Russian language and the languages of the people’s of Russia in strengthening national unity. The Russian Federation is one of the largest multi-ethnic states in the world with representatives of over 193 ethnic groups that speak 277 languages and dialects. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office stressed that support for the Russian language as the state language and for the languages of the peoples of Russia is based on the Russian Federation State Nationality Policy Strategy approved by the President in December 2012.
Vladimir Tolstoy confirmed the imperative nature of the proposed agenda, adding that maintaining language diversity is an important factor in strengthening the unity of the multi-ethnic Russian nation and requires constant attention.
Taking part in the meeting, apart from the permanent members of the Councils’ Presidiums, were Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin, Minister for North Caucasus Affairs Lev Kuznetsov and Education and Science Minister Dmitry Livanov.
Pursuant to instructions from the President, the joint meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations and the Council on the Russian Language is to take place on February 6, 2015, and will be chaired by the President of Russia.