Russian language is among three most studied in Czech Republic.

PRAGUE, May 17 (Itar-Tass) -- The language of Pushkin and Tolstoy
becomes popular in the Czech Republic.
"The interest to studying the Russian language is growing at all
levels from secondary schools to universities," the Minister-Counsellor of
Russia's embassy in the Czech Republic Anatoly Agapov said at the
International Fair The World of Books on Friday.
"The support for studying the Russian language is a part of the
humanitarian cooperation between the two counties," he said. "It is worth
mentioning that the initiative comes from the Czechs."
The Russian stand at the fair attracted many visitors. Many of them
studied the books presented there. A well-known expert in the Russian
language, Yana Vackova, looked through one of the books for children. She
has been teaching Russian for over 30 years and has published a text book
for intensive studies.
"This is my dearest 'baby'," she said showing the edition which had
been published numerous times.
"The demand for the Russian language is growing," she said. "It is
especially true for the Ostrava Region which develops economic cooperation
with Russia very actively."
Our compatriot, Mark Blumental, who had been living in Prague for a
long time, visited the fair, too. He is a member of an association uniting
Russian-speaking writers of the Czech Republic. The main part of Russia's
exposition is devoted to the 65th anniversary of the victory in World War
II, and for Blumental, who is 84, this is a part of his life. In spring of
1945, when he was 18, he took part in the liberation of Czechoslovakia.
Speaking about the war, he tried to avoid memories of horrors.
"Our commanders protected us, the greenhorns of 18," he said with
appreciation.
The international book fair been has organized for the 16th time this
year. It features books from 34 countries.
Russia has been taking part in this event for eight years running.
Last year, Russia was the guest of honour.


.Traditional White Nights Charity action starts in St Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Police from Russia's 78 regions
will take part in the final stage of the national White Nights Charity
action, which starts on Monday.
The annual action has been held for 19 times already. Over the first
stage, the participants in the action memorise police and interior
military, who died in action, and provide social support for their
families. The second, final, stage of the action is held in St.
Petersburg. Sponsor companies and the municipal government support the
event.
This year, police will take part in a musical contest on May 21.
Russia's popular singers will take part in the event along with the
contestants.
The participants of the action plan to visit St. Petersburg's police
departments, the hospital for the veterans of World War II. They will give
a concert at a police training centre. On May 22, they will lay wreaths to
the monument at the Field of Mars memorial, where, among others, St.
Petersburg's police were buried over the pre-revolutionary times.
The White Nights Charity action was organised for the first time back
in 1991. It featured a concert of popular singers. Amateur police singers
presented their best songs, too. The following year, the action united
Russia's all regions to become a nation-wide event.

-0-kar


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