President Putin calls urges for greater attention to be paid to compatriots abroad

Russian president Vladimir Putin pointed to the need of paying particular attention to the work with compatriots living abroad, and rendering them information, organisational, legal and administrative assistance.

The Russian president stressed at his meeting with representatives of delegations to the Third World Congress of Tatars that all state bodies have ben given a corresponding instruction, including the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The head of state also noted that Russia where, historically, the Slavonic and Turkic peoples live together, had always been and continued to be the centre of gravitation and unification of many cultures.

"I am convinced that in this lies Russia's force and our great potential which should only be developed", Putin said. In this connection he pointed to the experience of Tatarstan where traditions of good-neighbourliness, mutual respect, understanding and tolerance have always been strong. "This strength is a major factor of the republic's development today, too, and an example of how life of various peoples can be organised on the territory of a Russian Federation's constituent member," stressed the president.

He also pointed out that Tatarstan's "interesting work" to further enhance relations with Tatar communities in the Russian regions and abroad deserves attention. "Precisely these contacts help to successfully solve issues of preserving the national cultural originality and language, and implementing educational and humanitarian programmes," Putin said adding that these contacts could become the basis for various joint business projects.