Russian language abroad: Finnish pupils will study Russian language

Russian language may be introduced into the curriculum of educational institutions of Finland’s eastern districts as a foreign language. This issue was on the agenda at the meeting of Deputy Head of Federal Agency on the CIS, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Sergei Shapovalov with the Chairperson of the Friendship Society “Finland-Russia” H. Talvitie and society’s Secretary General M. Hannus.

This initiative undertaken by local authorities, citizens and business community received support on the part of the Prime Minister of Finland.

Public meetings due in 2011, among them Cultural Forum, Days of Finland in Samara, events of the Finno-Ugric cooperation, Forum of Public Organizations of Northern Countries in St. Petersburg will enable citizens of both countries to discuss new opportunities for humanitarian, cultural and business contacts, made possible due to real assistance of both governments which has been recently rendered to civil society initiatives.