Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the 41st meeting of the Council of the Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow, November 20, 2023

Colleagues,

I am happy to welcome you to the 41st meeting of the Council of the Heads of Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At our previous meeting, we discussed a range of issues related to advancing the interaction between our regions and the Central Asian countries. We set priorities and outlined practical steps, primarily in order to impart additional dynamics to cooperation between the regions. We have noted that you have undertaken major efforts to implement the long-term recommendations issued following the last council meeting. Our Central Asian partners are equally committed to promoting exchanges and specific forms of cooperation at the regional level.

Today, we will focus on International Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation with the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation in the New Geopolitical Reality. To perform this work successfully, we have a solid legal foundation, primarily the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation and the Concept for Humanitarian Policy Abroad.

International cultural events such as festivals, competitions, and tours by performing artists that are regularly hosted by Russia, as well as contacts between museums and theatres, and cinematography contribute to strengthening the humanitarian component of our relations with our partners internationally. The United Cultures Forum, which is an annual event, concluded in St Petersburg several days ago. President Vladimir Putin addressed the audience with an extensive speech and then took questions.

I won't go into detail about the topics that were discussed, but most importantly we are for culture remaining outside any political processes, conflicts, or crises. It should know no boundaries. We are ready to develop cooperation in this sphere with all countries, especially those whose leaders support promoting contacts in this area, but we are not closing the door to cultural and artistic figures from the countries that are currently led by unfriendly governments.

It is important to pursue Russia’s scientific and academic potential. Many regional centres accommodate unique higher education institutions, research organisations, and research infrastructure. Applicants from around the world hold these in high demand. We should continue to expand interregional programmers of cooperation between universities, and involve foreign experts in international scientific and educational events.

We are interested in seeing the number of foreign students studying at Russian universities grow. Favourable conditions are being created to this end. We would like to encourage regional education institutions to maintain ties with their graduates, and to facilitate the creation and functioning of associations of graduates from Russian and Soviet universities in foreign countries. Positive experience is available, and we will continue to build on it.

We are interested in promoting the status of the Russian language, especially in the countries that border Russia, as well as expanding educational programmes in Russian, including for migrant workers.

International relations in sports, youth exchanges, and the volunteer movement deserve special mention. We see good prospects for creating theme-based camps in the constituent entities of the Federation, and bringing in young people from foreign countries.

You are aware of our focus on tourism. We want foreign tourists to increasingly see Russia as a preferred destination. Many regions have achieved significant success in promoting cultural, educational, youth, sports, environmental, and other types of tourism. These successes are being vividly demonstrated these days at the international RUSSIA EXPO exhibition and forum held at VDNKh.

We note the growing level of interaction between regions and Rossotrudnichestvo, primarily considering the use of the infrastructure of Russian centres of science and culture abroad. We welcome the initiatives of the regions for this. We will support them as best we can.

As Chairman of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, I will spend a moment discussing the opportunities that the Russian regions may have in working within this organisation’s platform. Proper use of this infrastructure is a good vehicle for exporting Russian education, culture, and science, as well as promoting our language diversity, cultural heritage, and natural wealth. UNESCO has various network projects ranging from associated schools and university departments to creative cities from the World Heritage List. By establishing contacts with them, our regions gain access to a vast number of reliable and engaged partners worldwide.

Many regions actively utilise UNESCO's expertise in promoting their development, and in enhancing their tourism and investment appeal. Examples abound. I will only mention the inclusion of Kazan Federal University’s astronomical observatories on the World Heritage List last September, which gave a significant boost to tourism in Tatarstan. The volume of tourists interested in visiting our republic has noticeably grown. The creation of a UNESCO geopark in Bashkortostan has expanded the region's external ties on this issue with the CIS countries and other nations.

Yakutia and Yugra are active in the field of multilingualism, including as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. This allows them to conduct representative international events even amid these challenging circumstances.

The cultural potential of the regions can and should be used to strengthen cooperation within new types of multilateral associations involving Russia. I am talking about BRICS, in which we will assume chairmanship next year.

As for contacts between regions and representatives of the Western countries, I have already mentioned that we are open to the participation of their cultural and artistic figures and ready to collaborate with their youth and sports circles. Of course, such cooperation should be free of politics.

The Foreign Ministry will make every effort to ensure that this comes to pass and that these activities take place solely within a humanitarian context. Many people in Europe and the United States sympathise with our country. The St Petersburg International Cultural Forum has once again convincingly confirmed this.

Over the past year, cooperation between the constituent entities of the Federation and countries such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan has been the most intensive. The absolute majority of the regions maintain close ties with China in all areas. Interaction with India and the Arab countries has stepped up. The constituent entities that are particularly active on the cultural and humanitarian track include Moscow and St Petersburg, Karelia, Crimea, and the Kamchatka Territory, as well as the Vologda, Kaluga, Leningrad, and Nizhny Novgorod regions.

I believe cultural diplomacy at the regional level should reach a whole new level in the interest of strengthening the high standing of our country and shaping its objective image abroad. This work requires concentration and adaptation to changing realities.

The Foreign Ministry will approach cooperation with our colleagues in this particular way. In order to enhance the effectiveness of our cultural and humanitarian policy and to improve coordination in this area, a new Foreign Ministry unit, the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations, was created earlier this year. Its staff will provide information, advice and practical assistance to all constituent entities of the Federation. I encourage everyone to join this collaborative effort.