IV World Congress of compatriots residing abroad officially opened today in St.Petersburg. The Tatarstan delegation led by Chairman of the State Council Farid Mukhametshin participated in the forum.

More than 500 chiefs and activists of public associations of compatriots, prominent representatives of foreign communities from 100 countries participated in the event.

The following issues are discussed within the framework of congress: consolidation of relationships between the Russian community abroad and the historical homeland, preservation of its ethnocultural uniqueness, realisation of the State program on rendering help to voluntary relocation of compatriots residing abroad.

Video message of the Russian President Vladimir Putin was presented to the audience. The President said that within the framework of the State program 100 thousand Russians had come back to their native land for the last few years.

Chairman of the State Council Farid Mukhametshin delivered a welcoming speech at the plenary session. To the point, Farid Mukhametshin heads Coordination council for affairs of compatriots under the RT President and the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan.

Farid Mukhametshin said that Tatarstan had always been one of the most active regions in Russia where major and systemic work with compatriots was accomplished.

Chairman of the State Council noted that conservation of national customs and traditions is an important uniting factor for many compatriots.

Farid Mukhametshin listed measures on establishing and supporting relationships between Tatarstan and compatriots: opening of public access to resources of the National electronic library; creation of information and resource social network “Tatar ile”; launching of major telecommunication project “TNV-planet”.

Head of the Tatarstan Parliament stressed that the World congress of Tatars as usual plays an active role in developing relationships with compatriots. At the same time, the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan renders great support in realisation of the state migration policy, development of horizontal public contacts with foreign national and cultural organisations.

According to Farid Mukhametshin, ideas and proposals advanced on the part of Tatarstan had always been supported by federal authorities. He thanked Federal Agency for Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Residing Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation, Russian Ministry of foreign affairs, Government commission for affairs of compatriots and personally Head of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

Farid Mukhametshin suggested holding World youth forum of Russian compatriots in Kazan after summer Universiade 2013.

Aide to the Tatarstan President Radik Gimatdinov, Minister of culture Airat Sibagatullin, Chairman of Executive Committee of the World congress of Tatars, deputy of the State Council Rinat Zakirov, permanent representative of the Republic of Tatarstan in St.Petersburg and Leningrad region Shamil Akhmetshin and other officials presented the Tatarstan delegation at the congress.