Thirteenth Forum of the Germans of Russia will take place in Omsk 

From 12 until 16 November 2014 the Thirteenth Forum of the Germans of Russia will take place in the Omsk region, with the title: “50 Years of Contemporary Social Movement of the Germans of Russia. Perspectives For Further Development of the Self-Organisation of the Germans of Russia”.

On the invitation of IVDK, FUEN President Hans Heinrich Hansen will participate at the 2014 Forum.

The Forum takes place within the framework of the programme of activities implemented by the governments of the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany and is organised by the National Cultural Autonomy organisation of the Germans of Russia in the Omsk region with support from Internationaler Verband der deutschen Kultur (IVDK) and the government of the Omsk region.

The aim of the Forum is to work on strategies for the further development of civic organisations and associations of the Germans in Russia and the exchange of experiences in the field of ethno-cultural youth and social work, language, history, cultural activities and information. An important point on the programme is the visit to the German national district of Asowo in the Omsk region and an in-depth presentation of the workings of this unique national-territorial unit of the Germans in Russia. 

The organisers expect more than 500 participants and guests, among them representatives of the self-organisations of the Germans from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, representatives of Russian and German government bodies and members of partner organisations and institutions in the field of social affairs, education, research and information from Russia, Germany and the CIS-countries. 

Furthermore, the organisation committee of the Forum suggested to the leadership of the ethno-cultural self-organisation of the Germans in Kazakhstan to invite both creative ensembles and representatives of the administrations from the regions Pavlodar and North Kazakhstan that are directly adjacent to the Omsk region, with the objective to support the course of the state policy of both countries in relation to the development of the Eurasian Union.

It is expected that the deputy leader of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation, Mr Magomedsalam Magomedov, and the Governor of Omsk region, Mr Viktor Nazarov, will participate in the opening ceremony.

This years’ Forum will pay special attention to discussing the current state of affairs and the opportunities for harmonising interethnic relations in Russia and also to geo-cultural branding of the German national district and to the further development of the social movement of the Germans of Russia in the Omsk region.

Moreover, the official prize ceremony of the Russia-wide competition “The Best German Name of Russia 2014” will take place during the Forum, which takes place this year, within the framework of the Year of the German Language and Literature in Russia.

Press Service IVDK