The 5th Regional Forum of Russian Compatriots of the Americas
The 5th Regional Forum of Russian Compatriots of the Americas (North, South and Central) was held from the 7th through the 9th of September 2011 in Lima, Peru. 24 delegates from 18 countries of the Western Hemisphere, including USA, Canada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, and other South American countries, as well as Cuba participated in the forum this year. These forums provide an opportunity to meet with other Russian community organizations from the different waves of Russian immigrants who came to various countries of the Americas and exchange information, ideas and proposals for promoting Russian language, culture and heritage throughout our communities. CRA President, Natalie Sabelnik was invited to represent US and the West Coast Russian American community organizations. In her speech to the delegates, she thanked all for their support and signatures on the petitions that CRA collected during the 3rd Regional Forum, held in Mexico in 2009. These petitions were sent to Governor Schwarzenneger along with a letter of protest from CRA and the numerous signatures collected throughout the SF Bay Area and US, against the closure of Fort Ross. She also informed the delegates that 2012 would be the 200th anniversary of Fort Ross and since the celebration would also mark 200 years of Russians in California, she requested that it would be so noted in the resolution at the conclusion of the forum. The following statement was officially added to the final resolution:
"In view of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Fort Ross
to ask the Russian government to declare 2012 Year of Friendship between Russia and America."