Moscow State University discusses experience of Moscow diasporas

Lomonosov Moscow State University is holding a panel discussion about consolidating and advancing the practical experience of the Moscow diasporas in strengthening interethnic cooperation in Russia's capital and forming the image of an inhabitant of Moscow.

It is being held in the framework of project  dubbed 'the information and analytical website 'Friendship of the Peoples. The palette of Moscow's diasporas, compatriots, autonomies, national cultural public organizations' with the support of the Moscow Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations.

The discussion will be addressed by  the Deputy Dean, Academic Secretary of the history department of Moscow State University, head of the Diaspora History Laboratory, Associate Professor of the Department of History of the near abroad, Chairman of the NGO 'Belarusians of Moscow', candidate of historical sciences Oksana Solopova, the Dean of the History Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Doctor of Liberal Arts, Professor Ivan Tuchkov, the chairman of the Presidium of the All-Russian Public Movement 'Russian Congress of Peoples of the Caucasus', Chairman of the Commission on Migration Affairs of the Presidential Council on Interethnic Relations, Aslambek Paskachev, President of the Regional Public Organization for the Preservation of the Cultural and Historical Heritage of Moscow 'Moscow and Muscovites', Chairman of the Commission for the Development of Interethnic Relations, Interregional Relations and Ethnotourism of the Council for Nationalities under the Government of Moscow, Gally Monastyryova, Vice President of the Public Diplomacy Foundation, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Russian Center 'Jerusalem', Chairman of the Commission on the National Cultural Heritage and Ethno-Cultural Development of the Council for Nationalities under the Moscow Government, Alexander Berdnikov, the rector of the humanitarian institute of the Commonwealth countries, the chairman of the All-Russian Congress of Ethno Journalists, the chairman of the Commission on Information Policy of the Council for Nationalities under the Government of Moscow, Jamil Sadykhbekov, a creative producer and the host of Vesti FM, Giorgi Saralidze, Chairman of the Board of the Regional Public Organization 'Council of Zemstvo of Ukraine', Nikolai Lyakh, and Director General of Vestnik Kavkaza, reader in the history of post-Soviet countries at the History Department of MSU Ismail Agakishiyev.

Dean of the History Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Ivan Tuchkov, said in his speech that national diaspora issues are of profound scientific interest. "In general, modern historiography pays much attention to the problem of 'friend and foe', because in a multipolar world we should understand that a point of view and evaluation of another world is of great importance ... In any actions connected with this issue, diasporas,organizations of national diasporas have a great role," the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza cited the professor as saying.

According to him, these issues cannot be studied without considering the role of the relevant state structures, therefore the importance of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow is also very great. "All our departments are engaged in this problem, starting from the pulpit of the ancient world and ending with the departments of modern history, including the department of the countries of the near abroad and the department of ethnology," the Dean of the History Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University said.

Ivan Tuchkov drew special attention to the fact that the faculty created a special laboratory to study diasporas. "This laboratory carries out significant pedagogical work, but also a huge scientific work," he stressed.

Chairman of the NGO 'Belarusians of Moscow', candidate of historical sciences Oksana Solopova stressed that that national cultural cultural organizations became the key points in the relations between Russia and the countries of the near abroad.

"National cultural cultural organizations have a great responsibility, because they took on the function of diplomats. Public organizations constantly interact, which, in turn, causes a lot of questions and a lot of problems," Oksana Solopova said.

She drew attention to the fact that Russia's interests should be in the first place for national cultural cultural associations, because they are Russian citizens.