June 23, 2009 - 11:36 AMT
Moscow takes action to prevent xenophobia and extremism
The first meeting of newly formed council of nationality issues at the government of Moscow took place on June 22, 2009. Under chairmanship of deputy mayor of Moscow Sergei Baydakov, the council members discussed formation of student associations and extra measures to prevent xenophobia and extremism among youth.

"We dwelled on the mechanisms to exterminate these phenomena in our society. With appointment of Sergei Baydarkov and Mikhail Solomentsev as curators, we witness considerable progress," commented Gegham Khalatyan, deputy chairman of the council.

Working groups will be formed in all prefectures of Moscow. Their activities will be coordinated by the Moscow Integration Center.

According to Levon Mukanyan, vice president of the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR), the government of Moscow demonstrates a new approach to the problem of xenophobia and radical extremis.