The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Culture of the French Republic signed a Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of cultural heritage. Heads of departments, Vladimir Medinsky and Françoise Nissen, signed the document. The meeting was held within the framework of talks between the president of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the president of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron. 

“The signing of the Russian-French Declaration of Intent in the field of cultural heritage will allow us to establish regular teacher and student exchanges, as well as the exchange of experience and training programs for professional personnel in the field of conservation and management of sustainable development of cultural heritage in our countries,” The Minister of Сulture of the Russian Federation and the Сhairman of the RMHS (the Russian Military Historical Society) Vladimir Medinsky noted.

The signing of the declaration allows us to continue the effective cooperation in the field of preservation, restoration, and distribution of information in the field of cultural heritage, which began in 2016 as part of the Year of Cultural Tourism between Russia and France in 2016/17. According to the provisions of the document, the agencies will establish bilateral cooperation in the field of preserving the architectural heritage and improving professional competence related to the architectural heritage.

The departments will also strive towards the development of cooperation, exchange of experience and information, provision of technical mutual assistance, exchange of specialists, joint organization of training, and conducting seminars and training in Russia and France.

The declaration also implies the creation of a committee that will hold regular meetings. It will consist of representatives of both ministries. At the end of the year, the committee will evaluate the activities dedicated to the implementation of the declaration and determine the priorities for cooperation for the next year.

In the framework of international activities, the Russian Military Historical Society actively cooperates with French state and public organizations. The RMHS initiated the process and actively participated in the establishment of monuments and obelisks in the French Republic, commemorating the memory of Russians who died on the battleground of the Western Front during the First World War. Memorable events are regularly held. In 2017 a search expedition was organized on the battlefields in the Commune Courcy.

On May 29, on the hill Mont Espen (Commune Aguilcourt, Department of Aisne, the French Republic) the grand opening of the obelisk for the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade of the Russian Expeditionary Force in France was held. The monument was established by the Russian Military Historical Society and the architect, Konstantin Fomin.

Reference about the activities of The Russian Military Historical Society