The contest of projects for support of national minorities started in Russia

The European Council and Russian Ministry of regional development begin reception of claims for the contest “National minorities in Russia: development of languages, culture, mass-media and public society”.

The general goal of the joint program is the encouragement of ethnic and national minorities in Russia and extension of recognition of their originality in sphere of culture, education, mass-media and public society taking the European standards into consideration. The regional language or the language of a minority has to be a constituent of any abovementioned areas in the proposed projects. The content of the arrangements has to correspond to the discussions and cooperation in development of inter-ethnic relations, integration of the minorities, the inter-cultural dialogue and overcoming of intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, stereotypes and prejudices.

Claims are accepted from Russian non-commercial organizations, including professional associations, working in the sphere of national minorities; regional and municipal authorities; mass-media, specializing in this sphere; educational, scientific and cultural institutions. The declarants have to be the legal persons, officially registered in Russian Federation.

The overall sum of all projects on this contest makes 900000 EUR.

Any grant, submitted to the contest, should conform to the following conditions: the minimal sum is 30 000 EUR and the maximal one – 40 000 EUR. Up to 30 projects will be chosen and offered for realization within the period between June 1, 2010, and August 31, 2011.

The duration of every project makes no more than 12 months. The filing deadline is January 31, 2010.

More detailed information is available to the address: http://coe.ru/news/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=196.