Crimean forums offer candid insights into development prospects of peninsula, Russian World

The 11th international festival of Russian and Slavic Culture, which is entitled Great Russian Word, took place at the Livadia Palace in Yalta on June 5-6. Aimed to preserve the Russian language and culture, the format of the event included Pushkin recitations and performances given by folklore groups.

The festival gathered more than 30 foreign delegations, many politicians and political analysts who discussed questions concerning the expansion of the Russian World into all corners of the globe. It was held under the patronage of Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, who stated that the forum gave politicians, government officials, experts and NGOs a unique opportunity to debate the critical issues and prospects of development of the Russian World, as well as a huge role played by the Russian language and culture in integration processes within the post-Soviet space and throughout the globe on the whole.

In addition, the resort town of Alushta hosted the inaugural international forum Open Crimea on June 11-12. Financed by Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev, the event brought together political scientists, experts and mass media representatives from Britain, Syria, Armenia, Cuba, Germany, France, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands and other countries. The forum offered its participants candid insights into development prospects of the peninsula, construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, achievements in the field of investments and the banking system.