Taimyr to discuss ethnic problems

On July 1-2, the capital of the Taimyr autonomous district, Dudinka, will be the venue of a visiting session of the National organising committee on preparations for and holding the International Decade of Indigenous Peoples, said Vladimir Zorin, minister for national migration policy. He told reporters that the session would focus on responsibility of executive authorities in Russian regions for implementing the tasks of the Decade. "Under review will be legislation for the protection of the Northern minorities' rights as well as adjustment of relationships between indigenous peoples and the state as regards land and natural resources," said Zorin. Much attention is to be paid to the state's activities concerning science, culture, education and health. On the second day of work, a round-table meeting with the participation of the heads of ethnic minorities' associations is planned to be held. According to Vladimir Zorin, the Russian government sees to it that traditional crafts of the indigenous peoples in the North are constantly supported. Now that the federal budget estimates for the next year are being worked out, it is required to specify these minorities' definite needs, especially with account of the results of the all-Russia census," noted Zorin.