At the National Library of the Republic of Tatarstan, in the framework of the Days of Sweden in Tatarstan, the opening lecture by the Ambassador of Sweden to Russia Ms. Veronika Bard Bringeus took place

Interest in this country among Kazaners is obviously great as in a reading room of the main library of the Republic, having brought the guests to rapture by its architecture and old-fashioned interior, it was, as they say, "no room to swing a cat"...

The meeting opened with a brief welcome a hostess of the ground, Director of the RT National Library Syuyumbike Ziganshina.

Then Deputy Minister of Culture of Tatarstan Guzel Nigmatullina made a speech. She welcomed the guests, stressed the importance of the Days of Sweden in the Republic of Tatarstan in strengthening the ties of our republic with one of the most interesting countries in Europe. Recalling that the previous Days of Sweden in Tatarstan were held almost ten years ago, the Deputy Minister said at the same time that the contacts in the field of culture had not been interrupted - over the years repeatedly various creative meetings of Kazaners with cultural Sweden - concerts of musical ensembles and soloists, exhibitionsof artists and photographers were held.

She also marked a major cultural events in a current program of the Days of Sweden to be held in Tatarstan, marking their high level and invited all the present to visit them.

In response, the Swedish Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Ms. Veronika Bard Bringeus thanked Tatarstan side for the warm welcome and excellent organization of the Days, again expressed admiration over the place of meeting, and stressed that in these walls, breathing by a preserved cultural heritage, especially appropriate to talk about the dialogue of cultures. She expressed special gratitude in connection with an exhibition of books by the Swedish authors from the fund of RT National Library.

Turning to the lecture part of her speech, Ms. Veronika Bard Bringeus marked that Sweden, like Tatarstan, a multicultural country - today some 20 per cent of the population are citizens arriving from other countries that have historical roots other than native Swedes. Due to the flexible public policy so as to maintain social peace in society and thrive economically, Sweden, as it is known, shows one of the highest living standards in the world.

The purpose of the Days of Sweden in Tatarstan is to expand cultural and educational cooperation of Swedish republic with Tatarstan, familiarity with the latest developments in the Swedish culture and art, economy, establishment of business contacts between Swedish and Tatarstan companies.

Sweden and Tatarstan, as one of the leading regions of Russia, in the opinion of the Ambassador, have great prospects for cooperation in various fields and the cultural component of this cooperation - one of the most promising.