Declaration of the Bureau of the

Federation for Peace and Conciliation

International Non-Government Organization

with consultative status at UNESC and participatory status with Council of Europe on discrimination measures against Russian-speaking people

Now in Baltic countries first of all in Latvia unseemly and provoking campaign directed to propagation of discrimination measures against Russian-speaking people is going on. At bottom of fact the matter concerns attempts to make pretended barriers on the way of study dissemination and development of Russian language. Meanwhile, it is well known that Russian language is one of the most commonly used official languages in modern world recognized by UN and other leading international organizations.

Contribution of Russian language to world culture thesaurus taking into consideration works of outstanding writers, composers, artists, and scientists creating in Russian cannot be overemphasized. Traditionally Russian language is communicative means for many millions audience not only in Russia, Baltic countries and numbers of countries in Eastern Europe, but also in Middle Asia, in the Far East and the world over.

It is the expression of sanctimony and hypocrisy to popularize ideas of new thinking, human rights and XXI century’s democracy values development from one side and to persecute dissenters, to establish discriminating job placement rules and prohibition on Russian language using from the other side.

Attacks on Russian language inspired and supported by Baltic countries chauvinistic groups are breaking elementary communication standards in civilized society, violating the human rights of thousands of people living in this region and speaking Russian. These actions infringe upon human rights, damage to international relationship development and create complication in good-neighbor and partner relations between Russia and Baltic countries.

Some demarches directed to restriction and interdiction of Russian language using bearing a strong resemblance to Nazi program actions with their anti-Russian propaganda.

International Federation for Peace and Conciliation condemning decidedly to discrimination measures accepted in Baltic region against Russian-speaking population and directed to stringent restriction of Russian language and Russian national culture infringement.

IFPC appeals upon UN, European Union, Council of Europe, Europe countries community and good will people all over the world to condemn “witch hunting” practice and expect tolerance and democracy society pluralism principles respect from Baltic countries leaders. The matter concerns also observance the European Charter of Regional languages and minority languages. Especially Article № 8 of the Charter provided for possibility of pre-school upbringing and education (from elementary to university education) on corresponding regional language and minority languages.

Urgency of this problem more then usual high on the threshold of the Baltic Republics entry into European Union. Solutions of this question in many respects would be characteristics for the direction of democracy process in enlarging Europe.