Issues and experience of developing and preserving the Russian culture in America was the full title of a two-day conference that took place in Washingotn, D.C. from December 7 through the 9.

The American Association of Russian Culture, Language, and Education (AARCE), the Russian-language online portal Russian.DC.com, and the Association of Russian-Speaking Youth Abroad acted as the organizers of the event sponsored through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Government of Moscow, as well as the Moscow House of the Compatriot.

More than 250 participants from twenty American states and seven other nations took part in the conference conducted at the Russian Embassy and the Russian Cultural Centre. The people that gathered in the American capital were not at all indifferent to what the future holds for the Russian language and culture in the U.S. All delegates at the conference expressed great enthusiasm for taking decisive measures to improve the existing situation. Unfortunately, today, the American people’s interest towards the Russian language is waning. Only 1.6% of foreign language students in the United States choose to study Russian.

A famous Russian scholar and linguist Nikolai Zaitsev came to the Conference from St. Petersburg. The people that learn to read and write in Russian through Zaitsev’s system around the world number in the tens of thousands.

“I am confident that my approach to learning will help the parents from former U.S.S.R. countries to teach their young or American-born children the Russian language,” Nikolai Zaitsev said.

“Many interested and engaged individuals came to the conference. Quite frankly, we did not fully anticipate this turnout,” said Svetlana Sokolova, AARCE’s vice president. “The high level of attendance we see here confirms the great degree of interest that Russian people share for preserving their culture and their language on the American continent. All participants unanimously supported the idea of creating additional informational and educational resources for the Russian people residing in the United States and in other countries. The initiative of establishing a Center for the Russian Language in the U.S. under the auspices of AARCE similarly received a unanimous vote in favor. The resolutions made at the conference reflect these goals. I am hopeful that we will find support and understanding on these issues from the Russian officials in Moscow.”

The chief representative of the Moscow House of the Compatriot Ludmila Kuzina greeted all participants on behalf of Mayor Yury Luzhkov and wished everyone success with the continuation of their endeavors.

“The Government of the City of Moscow understands the importance of working with our compatriots living abroad, particularly in matters related to the preservation of the Russian language and culture. We have allocated 84million roubles (USD 3.5 million) for this purpose from 2006 to 2008. The Moscow government has a deep interest in this topic.”

“In sectional discussions, the delegates raised the problems associated with the decline of interest towards the Russian language in educational establishments, the scarcity of qualified teachers in Russian schools, the low awareness level of the general public in regards to Russian-language educational initiatives, and the small number of Russian elementary and middle schools in the U.S.,” noted Marina Dullnig, the chief administrative secretary of the conference.

“One of the most crucial questions touched upon at this conference was the issue of disjointedness of the Russian intellectual community in America,” said Zlata Land, one of the conference delegates from Alaska who works as a choir director. “For the first time in the 13 years that I’ve lived in this country I could see that the Russian community is strong and is ready to act as truly one whole. This brings joy to me and encourages me to work.”

The conference AARCE organized also featured the presentations of a new methodological journal The Russian Language in America and an annual informational reference book The Russian Community of North America: Culture and Education.