International seminar Preservation and Development of Karelian and Finnish Languages in the Age of Globalization took place in Karelia, portal Karelia Official reports. Chairman of the State Committee of the RK for National Politics, Relations with Public and Religious Associations Andrey Manin welcomed the seminar participants on behalf of the Head of the Republic Andrei Nelidov. Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Pereplesnin, Head of the Secretary of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Alexey Kozhemyakov, the Consul of Petrozavodsk office of the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, the main expert of the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation R.Alpautov have also addressed to the audience with their greetings.

Mr.Alexey Kozhemyakov has made a detailed report on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the joint program of National Minorities in Russia: Developing Languages, Culture, Media and Civil Society. He has mentioned that this Charter is a unique agreement between the states which have incured the obligation to provide a future with favorable conditions for languages threatened by marginalization.

Participants of the seminar have got acquainted with the European experience of preservation of minority languages in Europe, in particular, Irish language and activity of the Irish community of Pobal (Northern Ireland), as well as the role of trans-border cooperation, nongovernmental organizations in preservation of minority languages.

Information on results of sociological field researches on modern position of the Karelian language was presented by Professor Janne Saarikivi of the University of Helsinki. On his observation, the number of native speakers reduces considerably every year.

During work of the seminar there has been presented the information on measures of the state support rendered to Karelian and Finnish languages in the republic. Within the scope of implementation of budgetary target programs activities are focused on work with families for preservation of language continuity, increase of children's and young people's motivation to study languages, correspondence competitions of essays for students learning Karelian and Finnish languages, arts and crafts competitions for children, competitions among journalists of national editions, competitions of families. Activities within the framework of the International Day of Native Languages, Day of Karelian and Veppsian Written Languages, Days of Related Finno-Ugric Peoples are held on a regular basis.

As for the measures of the state support of Karelian, Veppsian and Finnish of languages among priorities there are publishing activities in Karelian, Veppsian and Finnish languages, including publication of periodicals. There are six names of newspapers and magazines published in Karelia.

Within the framework of the regional target program of the state support of Karelian, Veppsian and Finnish of languages in 2006-2010 it has been released 44 books and 9 СDs. With the purpose of preservation of toponymic names of settlements in Karelian and Veppsian languages in places of traditional residing of Karelians and Veppsians there have been are made and established 77 front signboards and 75 guide signs for 7 municipal regions of Karelia.

To provide legal, social and economic support of Karelian language in 2009 it has been approved the Plan of complex actions Development of Karelian language in the Republic of Karelia for 2009 – 2020. The plan defines strategic purposes and tasks of language planning of Karelian language, development of literature, art, creativity, publishing activity, mass-media in the republic.

Special attention is paid to development of cross-border cooperation between Karelia and Finland, state support is rendered to activities of the international level. In 2011 Karelia will host the international course of Karelian language in the village of Vedlozero, presentation of translation of the New Testament into Karelian proper dialect of Karelian language in the village of Voknavolok and Petrozavodsk.

Attention of participants of the seminar was also focused on issues of education, in particular, learning of languages in educational institutions and use of new technologies in studying languages. Teachers of Karelian and Finnish languages observe that because of acceptance of new federal state educational standards the number of academic hours intended for teaching languages at school is reduced.

A.Pasanen, coordinator of the Language Nest project (Finland), has presented a method of language immersing or 'language nest' which is widely applied in Finland and the countries of Scandinavia when children study Lappish language. When the language is not spoken in the family, and the family loses its leading role in transfer of language traditions, as practice shows, it is hard to learn the language.

Participants of the seminar have emphasized, that to preserve minority languages it is necesary to consolidate efforts and establish close cooperation between authorities, local self-government, the state and public institutions. Only when the meaning of preservation of minority languages as a part of the world cultural heritage is understood it is possible to preserve them.

The second day of the seminar was held in Pryazha national municipal region. The guests have got acquainted with experience of preservation and use of language and traditional culture of Livvik Karelians, have visited local institutions of culture and education, have taken a look round the historical village of Kinerma.

Participants of the seminar have agreed, that the necessary condition for preservation of any people is that representatives of this people aspire to preserve their language and feel their responsibility for the future of their people. Languages demand material and financial support and participation of the state in solution of these tasks. If these conditions are met, the languages may be preserved.

The seminar was organized by the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation at the support of the Council of Non-Government Organizations under the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia, State Committee of the Republic of Karelia for National Politics, Relations with Public and Religious Associations, Karelian Resource Center of Public Organizations Noncommercial Partnership and the Finland – Russia Society.