International scientific conference opens in St.Petersburg

The international scientific conference "St. Petersburg and the North-West of Russia: History, Culture, and the Present Day" is opening in St.Petersburg.

The three-day conference is timed for the city's tercentenary and the 1,250 anniversary of Staraya Ladoga, a town on the southern bank of Lake Ladoga that was a trade and handicraft centre in ancient Rus. Both anniversaries will be marked in 2003.

The forum is attended by historians and literary critics from Russia, Europe, the USA and Canada.

The experts will focus their attention on the images of St. Petersburg and Staroya Ladoga in Russian and world culture. Scientists will present their latest research into the history of the Russian state and culture and discuss the directions of their future work.

A collection of scientific papers will be published on the basis of the materials of the conference.