TOMSK, Nov 24 – RIA Tomsk. The meeting of the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers and National Minorities Bernd Fabritius and representatives of Tomsk organizations of Russian Germans took place on Sunday afternoon; this is Fabritius's first visit to Tomsk, RIA Tomsk correspondent reports from the scene.
On November 24, Fabritius met in Tomsk Russian-German House (RGH) with representatives of public organizations of Russian Germans, grant recipient organizations, as well as heads of educational institutions with in-depth study of the German language.
"One of the main things for me – is to get acquainted with the life of Russian Germans living here in different regions. The federal government (of Germany) wants to support them, restore their identity and restore the knowledge of the German language, which they could not use for decades. I can do this, only if I see on the ground how they live, when I talk to them – learn about their customs and what they need", – Fabritius said RIA Tomsk through an interpreter.
He explained that the Federal Government Commissioner area of responsibility includes 26 countries. In Russia, he had already managed to visit Barnaul, Novosibirsk and Kaliningrad, where there are also organizations of Russian Germans. However, Fabritius is visiting Tomsk for the first time.
"In Tomsk <...> I am very deeply impressed, in particular, by the wooden architecture. I had conversations with Russian Germans – with the mayor of the city (Ivan Klein. – Ed.), the former governor (Viktor Kress. – Ed.) ... All these Russian Germans they combine the warmth and hospitality of Russians with German diligence and punctuality. And this, I think, is a very successful combination, and this makes them Russian Germans", – the Commissioner added.