Russia needs to extend the government's program supporting Russian culture and make it a national priority, according to Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov.
"A priority national project on culture is needed now more than ever," Mironov told a meeting of the Council of State Cultural Policy, the website of Russia's upper house of parliament reported on Thursday.
The Culture of Russia program is not currently among the four priority national projects, namely health, education, housing and the development of agriculture.
The speaker warned that nationalist sentiments are growing among Russia's youth. The younger generation is drifting away from spiritual culture, he said, and contemporary public policy underestimates the role of culture in bringing Russia together spiritually.
Mironov believes that spending on culture should be more than doubled and should not be less than 2 percent of the federal budget.
His comments echo those of Culture Minister Alexander Avdeev who recently called for funding to be increased to the 2-percent level. He said it currently stands at 0.75 percent of the federal budget, or about 75 billion rubles ($2.5 billion).
The Federation Council speaker proposed extending the Culture of Russia federal targeted program and making it more effective.
The Culture of Russia program was established for four years until 2011. One of its main objectives is to preserve Russia's historical and cultural heritage.
MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti)
