Welcome speech of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed to the participants of the Global thematic conferences “Nationals and their contribution to the world culture”

I cordially welcome the participants of the Global thematic conferences "Nationals and their contribution to the world culture".

The topic of our meeting has a special meaning. This year we are celebratingthe anniversaries of several of our compatriots, whose contribution to the treasury of the world's culture is tremendous. They include – Vasily Zhukovsky, Lev Tolstoy, Alexey Tolstoy, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Constantin Stanislavski, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Feodor Chaliapin, Kazimir Malevich, plus dozens of other names who make all of Russia and the multimillion Russian people feel proud.

We value the activity of our foreign diaspora, to strengthen the positions of Russia and advanceour cultural values, greatly. Such work becomes even more topical on the eve of the Year of culture in Russia in 2014,in accordance with the Decree of the President, Vladimir Putin.

I am convinced that the results of this conference will contribute to further increase the efficiency of our joint efforts to preserve our cultural and historical heritage, ensuring Russia its proper place as a great cultural power state.

I wish you successful and fruitful work, and all the best.

SERGEY LAVROV

29 October 2013