Льыоравэтльан - Dear friends, colleagues, members of LIENIP!

Just few days are left till the end of this year… Before the New Year starts, let’s recollect the events of the year passing by. I’m glad to recognize that this year we have succeeded not only to save the established Network of Indigenous Peoples, but also to strengthen it. The Regional Centers in Altai, Karelia, Krasnoyarsk have continued their work on education of indigenous peoples in the field of human and indigenous rights.

The Krasnoyarsk Center took for internship 8 representatives from Taimyr (that we didn’t have before), and just some days ago the first group of interns left out Kuzbass Center.

The Vice-President of the organization Evgenia Shustova in result of a competition was included in the group of interns for training courses in the High Commissioner Office on Human Rights in Geneva. We are sure, she can transfer the new knowledge to the members of the Network and we are looking forward to the meeting with her.
For the first time we, as an organization, tried to compose an alternative report on implementation of the statements of the Framework Convention on Protection of the National Minorities by the Russian Federation. I think, we succeeded, as in result in March 2006 the members of the Coordinating Board of the organization were invited to Moscow for the meeting with the experts – members of the Committee of the European Council for discussion of the submitted report.
In May Julia Gosart (an official representative of LIENIP abroad) participated in the 5th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and in July three members of our organization took an active part in the work of the last UN Working Group of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva.
One more important event in the life of our organization – LIENIP has become associated to the Department of Public Information of the United Nations, which should facilitate the access of the organization to the information on wide range of issues, which UN is concerned.
There have been some other events at regional and interregional levels of more or less importance for growth and development of the organization. One thing is obvious: thanks to your efforts, your everyday work, indigenous peoples of the remotest areas of Altai, Karelia, Kuzbass, Krasnoyarsky Kray were joined in a single informational network. Through this Network they communicate with each other, receive necessary knowledge and could show the real situation on the problems of indigenous peoples in the regions and in the whole Russian Federation.
In the coming New Year I wish you creative success, fruitful work, health and well-being to you and your families!

With best wishes,
Gulvaira Shermatova
President of LIENIP