Third Session of the Forum on Minority Issues “Minorities and effective participation in economic life” (Geneva, 14-15 December 2010) Statement by the representative of the delegation of the Russian Federation Madam Chairperson, The draft Forum recommendations call on the states to implement both targeted and inclusive approaches to solving problems of the economic and social exclusion of minorities. In this context, I would like to briefly present the Russian experience in creating conditions for the effective participation of national minorities in the economic life and the measures adopted by the government in support of these activities. The guarantees safeguarded in the legislation of the Russian Federation form the basis for the protection of human rights regardless of nationality, race or religious affiliation. Existing legislation providing access to training, housing, labour market, healthcare and social security fully applies to all citizens of the Russian Federation. It is a common practice in our country to use a programme methodology for providing support to the Federal subjects of Russia and the whole population residing in this territory. The section providing for measures to improve the socio-economic situation in the areas populated by substantial numbers of minorities, including the issues of overcoming unemployment, ensuring access to quality education, health and other social services forms an essential part of those programmes. At the same time, a number of targeted programmes aimed at certain ethnic groups are being implemented. One of the examples of such programmes is the programme “Socio-economic and ethno-cultural development of Russian Germans”, which foresees implementation of projects in the field of capital construction, social development and engineering infrastructure in the areas populated by substantial numbers of Russian Germans.