The meeting of the International Discussion Club “VISION 3000”, the theme of which was: “Sustainable development of the ethno-cultural sector”, was attended by Valiullin Renat, Head of the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Peoples of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Dear participants of the meeting, I would like to welcome you on behalf of the Chairman of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan and the heads of national cultural associations. Let me tell you about the activities of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan.
Modern Tatarstan is a republic with well-established centuries-old traditions of good-neighborly peaceful residence of representatives of various nationalities and religious denominations.
The population of Tatarstan is more than 4 million people, representatives of more than 175 nationalities live in friendship and harmony in the Republic of Tatarstan. The Assembly and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan is the center of unification of all the peoples of the republic.
The history of the creation of the Regional Public Organization “Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan” begins in May 1992, when the first Congress of the Peoples of Tatarstan was held, at which a resolution was adopted on the establishment of the Association of National Cultural Associations of the Republic of Tatarstan (ANCO RT)
Over 30 years of active activity, the Assembly has become the center of consolidation of the multinational movement of the peoples of Tatarstan, uniting under its wing about 270 regional and local national cultural associations of the republic representing the interests of 39 nationalities on the principle of one people – one vote.
The Assembly’s activities are aimed at stabilizing the socio-political situation in the republic by meeting the ethnocultural, ethnosocial needs, as well as participation in solving ethnopolitical issues of the multinational people of Tatarstan.
The main activities of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan are:
Preservation and development of the languages of the peoples of Tatarstan
Due to the fact that this direction is carried out mainly within the framework of schools (primarily the multinational Sunday school) and other educational institutions, the main work is carried out in active cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan and the departments of education of cities and districts of the Republic. The multinational school has 25 departments for the study of languages and cultures of different peoples, as well as vocal and choreography departments. Similar branches operate throughout the Republic. You can bring a child to any of them to study the native language and culture of your people. Last year, languages and culture of 25 nationalities were studied in 110 departments of Sunday schools in Tatarstan.
Preservation and development of the intangible heritage (folklore, traditions and customs) of the peoples of Tatarstan
The main element of this section is the preparation and holding at the republican level of traditional national holidays “Shirokaya Maslenitsa”, (holiday of the Turkic peoples) “Nauruz”, (Russian national holiday) “Karavon”, (Mari) “Semyk”, (Udmurt) “Gyron Bydton”, (Tatar national holiday) “Sabantuy”, (Mordovian) “Baltai” and “Valda Shinya”, (Chuvash) “Uyav” and “Uchuk”, (holiday of Slavic peoples) “Ivan Kupala”, (Kryashensky) “Pitrau”, and festivals of national cultures such as “Our House Tatarstan”, “Mosaic of Cultures”, “Pearl The world” many others.
An important task in the implementation of this direction is also the support of the Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan and local authorities for the initiatives of national communities in holding cultural events, traditional national holidays, contests, etc., as well as assistance in the study and preservation of oral and musical folklore. The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, local administrations of municipalities.
Information support and maintenance
It is advisable to include in this direction all activities related to the dissemination of information about the activities of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan in the media (print, electronic and others, including its own, owned by the Assembly), as well as obtaining information to organize the effective work of the Assembly.
Information about the activities of the Assembly and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, as well as the latest news in the field of national policy and migration legislation can be found from several resources.:
The information portal of the Assembly and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, which unites more than 50 sites: all national associations of municipal houses and friendship centers, the Youth Assembly, as well as the Tatar version.
The printed organ of the Assembly is the magazine “Our House – Tatarstan”, which covers issues of national and migration policy of the republic, ethno-cultural and ethno-confessional life of the peoples of Tatarstan and other topics in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Assembly. Specialists are preparing press releases, and cooperation has been established with the Tatmedia agency and the Tatarstan State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company. The journal has an electronic version.
The TV project “National question and answer” is broadcast weekly on the channel “Russia 24. Tatarstan”. The program, which involves experts at the regional and federal levels in the field of national policy and representatives of national communities.
Participation in solving migration problems
In 2013, the Council for Interethnic and Interfaith Relations under the President of the Republic of Tatarstan was established for effective interaction between government authorities and civil society institutions. It includes the heads of national public associations of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan. All heads of autonomous communities are invited once a quarter to a meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group on problems of Interethnic relations in the Republic of Tatarstan.
The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan has been cooperating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tatarstan on migration policy issues since 2004. Since 2009, a 9-party agreement on cooperation between the parties in the field of migration policy has been signed. Further, in 2016, a 10-party agreement was signed on the interaction of the Assembly of Representatives of Peoples Living in the Republic of Tatarstan, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Office of the Federal Migration Service for the Republic of Tatarstan in the field of migration policy.
As part of the implementation of the agreement, round tables are held quarterly at the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan. The heads of the autonomous communities acquaint their compatriots with information about the migration situation and changes in the work of the migration service.
Recently, work has intensified in the areas where branches and representative offices of the Assembly operate.
In the building of the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, the leaders of the National Assembly receive compatriots. Most of all, issues are being resolved through the Department of Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, employment, receiving salaries, as well as consular and assistance to those in the Central Migration Service. For example, the national cultural autonomies of Uzbeks and Tajiks of the Republic of Tatarstan annually carry out about 2,000 receptions of compatriots.
The heads of national cultural autonomies (NCAs), together with ministries and departments, regularly organize meetings with compatriots who work at factories and industrial enterprises, construction sites, and markets of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Development of interregional and international cooperation.
The work experience of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan has been highly appreciated by Russian, European, and world organizations: the Assembly of Peoples of Russia, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Organization of World Heritage Cities, and many others. In the regions of Russia and the CIS countries, they are familiar with the work of the national communities of Tatarstan, there is a cultural exchange between our republic and the subjects of the Russian Federation.
The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan periodically participates in visiting meetings, conferences and forums of interregional and international format.
The activities of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan in the subjects of the Russian Federation are being popularized.
Formation and development of the youth movement within the framework of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan.
This activity is carried out in order to ensure continuity and transfer the rich experience of ethnocultural work accumulated in the republic. In 2014, the Youth Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan was established for this purpose, which in turn conducts its activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, and the multinational Sunday school. An important element of this direction is the organization of a year-round multinational camp for children and youth in order to consolidate them, strengthen interaction, and familiarize themselves with the work of the Assembly and the national communities of the republic. Multinational summer shifts are held on the basis of one of the health camps in Kazan, in which about 270 children take part. The work of these shifts received a positive assessment and confirmed their necessity. Teachers from a multinational Sunday school and psychologists work in the camp according to a special profile program. Republican multinational youth sports and folklore festivals, held annually in different cities of Tatarstan, are also of great interest.
The Youth Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan carries out its activities in the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, unites 34 youth movements of national and cultural associations of the Assembly, has more than 20 representative offices in municipalities of the republic.
The mission of the organization is to make the national relevant and in demand among young people. The youth organization helps representatives of various nationalities to implement educational, cultural, sports and entertainment initiatives of youth aimed at friendship between peoples, prevention of nationalism and extremism among youth. The Youth Assembly actively works with international students, annually implements more than 10 ethnocultural projects. The Pearl of the World Beauty and Talent contest, the International Student Day interuniversity festival, and others are held annually.
Preservation and development of folk arts and crafts (material culture) of the peoples of Tatarstan
The material culture of the people (clothing, household items, products of traditional folk crafts and crafts) is one of the most important components characterizing nationality, serving to preserve and develop national identity. Ensuring the rights to creative realization within the framework of special institutions, centers of folk crafts in cities and districts united in a single network will always meet with support and receive a positive assessment of the activities of the national communities of the republic.
For the first time this year, at the initiative of the Assembly and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan, with the support of the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, R.N.Minikhanov, a large-scale project was implemented, this is an exhibition dedicated to the “Traditional costume of the peoples of the Kazan Volga region of the second half of the XIX – first half of the XX century” in Moscow in the building of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.
Previously, the exhibition was presented in 2023 in the Kazan Kremlin. When visiting the exhibition, the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, R.N. Minnikhanov, highly appreciated the results of the project and gave instructions on its further development. During the 6 months of the exhibition in the Kazan Kremlin, it was visited by over 36 thousand people.
Catalogues on “Traditional costumes of the peoples of the Kazan Volga region of the second half of the XIX – first half of the XX century” were also published
Cooperation with scientific centers.
This direction is being introduced to provide a scientific basis for the activities of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan and strengthen cooperation with scientific organizations (such as KFU, the Institute of History named after Marjani Academy of Sciences and others) dealing with issues of an ethnocultural, ethnosocial nature, the study of migration flows, the implementation of the national policy of the Republic of Tatarstan, sociological research in these areas.
Organizational and administrative direction
In order to ensure the operational and effective work of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan, it is necessary to hold organizational events – meetings of the Assembly Council, working meetings and meetings of the asset, both regular (in accordance with the Charter) and on emerging issues. This direction also implies participation in the development and implementation of normative acts in the field of national policy, assistance in the establishment of branches and representative offices, assistance in the creation and registration of new national public organizations, etc.
New national and cultural autonomies in the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan
The Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan is constantly being updated, and new autonomies have recently joined. Such as the Regional Public Organization “National Cultural Association of Yakuts of the Republic of Tatarstan”, the Tatarstan regional Public Organization for the development of cultural traditions and customs between the Republic of Tatarstan and the People’s Republic of China “Chinese Association”, the Local public organization “National Cultural Autonomy of Tuvinians of Kazan “Alantos” (“Lotus”), The Regional public Organization “Iranian National Cultural Association” of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Regional Public Organization “Giuseppe Italian National Cultural Association”.
Local branches of national cultural associations in municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan
Таблица.1
Visiting Sessions of the Presidium and Council of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan
Every year, the Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan holds field events in the municipalities of the republic. In order to study the practice of implementing State national policy on the ground, as well as the exchange of experience between the districts and the Assembly itself.
The visit of high-ranking representatives of state bodies and the Government.
The Assembly and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan are regularly visited by high-ranking representatives of state bodies and the government. In order to familiarize with the activities of the Assembly, its work and achievements in the field of preservation and development of national cultures.
Presentation of buses to the Representative Offices of the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan
The Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan provides constant support to the Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan, for example, minibuses have been allocated to the representative offices of the Assembly in municipal districts. This made it possible to provide comfortable working conditions and mobility for Assembly representatives.
Charity work, humanitarian aid.
The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan, together with the National Assembly of Tatarstan, actively participates in charity events and provides humanitarian assistance to the affected regions. Recently, we sent humanitarian aid to the Kursk region, previously we sent it to the Orenburg region, we regularly send humanitarian aid to the SVO zone, and also help the families of SVO participants. Before the school year, the campaign “Help to get ready for school” was held as part of the “Help your own” project.
Meetings with foreign students studying at Tatarstan universities
There are 45 universities with branches in Tatarstan, where more than 145 thousand students study, of which about 22 thousand are foreign students from more than 125 countries of the world.
The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan, together with the heads of the National Academy of Sciences, regularly organizes meetings with foreign students studying at universities in Tatarstan. In order to familiarize students with the legislation of the Russian Federation, contributing to their adaptation to life in the Republic and strengthening intercultural interaction.
This year, the Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan and the House of Friendship together with the administration of higher educational institutions with the participation of employees of ministries and departments of the Republic, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Republic of Tatarstan, representatives of Embassies and Consulates General in the Russian Federation, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan, the Youth Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan, the RMOO “League of Students of the Republic of Tatarstan”, ANO “Tatarstan – territory of opportunities”, heads of national cultural autonomies held 8 meetings in the lecture format – dialogue with foreign students from the Republic of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, India and Arab states studying in the 1st year on issues of socio-cultural adaptation, their compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation, countering drug trafficking, corruption, extremism and terrorism. (The total number of participants is 2050 people). The students were taught traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, rules of conduct in Russian society and responsibility for participation and assistance to terrorist organizations, inciting social, national and religious discord.
Together with the Ministry of Education, “Lessons of Friendship and Harmony” and “Lesson of Courage” are held with schoolchildren of Kazan.
In order to prevent offenses among children and adolescents, the Friendship House hosts an interactive cultural and educational project “Lesson of Friendship and Harmony” for students of grades 7 of educational institutions in Kazan. For example, in the 2nd quarter of 2024, 7 “Lessons of Friendship and Harmony” were held. During the “Lesson of Friendship and Harmony”, schoolchildren are taught the principles of peaceful coexistence in a team through improving ethnocultural literacy, developing skills in analyzing conflict situations on national soil, getting acquainted with the culture of different peoples, including in order to form an anti-terrorist worldview among children, and traditional spiritual and moral values are explained. After a tour of the House of Friendship and watching short films on the topic of interethnic conflicts, an interactive discussion takes place, and the lesson ends with a multinational concert program. Over the past period of 2024, 1,854 children, including 30 migrant children, took part in these events.
This year, for the first time, a “Lesson of courage” was held in the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan. The event was aimed at increasing patriotism for the Motherland among schoolchildren. Hero of Russia Rasim Baksikov came to a meeting with tenth grade students. He told the high school students about honor, courage and love for the Motherland. This event has become bright and memorable for schoolchildren. They received valuable life lessons and became interested in the topic. The Peoples’ Friendship House plans to continue working on the content of future meetings to make them even more effective and useful for teenagers.
Every year our NCAs participate in grants and receive support.
The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan plays an important role in preserving the cultural diversity of the republic, contributes to strengthening interethnic peace and harmony.
I would like to end my speech with this. Thanks for attention.