Konstantin Tolkachev will evaluate experience of native languages studying at European Council Congress in Strasbourg

UFA, 16 October 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. The Speaker of the regional parliament Konstantin Tolkachev departed to Strasbourg, where he will take part in the 33rd plenary session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe from October 17 to 20.

Commenting on the upcoming event, the Chairman of the republican parliament noted that due to the difficult political situation there were less and less sites for interparliamentary cooperation between representatives of Russia and Western countries.

Russia-EU cross-border cooperation programs, the partnership of Russia, Iceland and Norway in the Arctic zone within the framework of the Northern Dimension agreement will be discussed in Strasbourg. Separately the situation in the Crimea and the election of the Sevastopol governor will be also touched upon.

"In this regard, a consistent policy to break through the international blockade of the Crimea is important. Solid steps in this direction have already been made. The recent visits to Crimea of a group of parliamentarians from Great Britain, Brazil, Serbia, Montenegro, the Czech Republic and Kirghizia, as well as the delegation of the American Center for Civic Initiatives, were of great resonance", stressed the Chairman of the Bashkortostan Parliament. "I am confident that the forthcoming meeting in Strasbourg will be the next step towards recognizing this Russian region by the greatest number of our Western partners".

It is expected that several topics of the upcoming session will be associated with national and language policies in Europe. The question will be considered on the example of Belgium, Italy and Spain.

"The experience of European countries in creating conditions for studying native languages, supporting cultures of different peoples, strengthening interethnic harmony and overcoming contradictions will be very valuable. I'm sure we will have something to learn", believes Konstantin Tolkachev.