|
Russian Speaking Community
in Europe - Past, Present, Future
First International Conference "Russian Speaking Community
In Europe - Past Present Future" took place in London on 22
November 2002. The Conference was hosted by Russian House
International, a U.K.-registered charity (established in 1993)
and primarily sponsored by Slavyankiy Bazaar, a British corporate
group.
The Conference has elicited an active response from Russian
speaking expatriates. The quality of discussion and organisation
of the Conference were praised by many. Amongst others the
following issues were discussed: present condition of the
Russian speaking diaspora in Europe and the rest of the world,
avenues and objectives for its development. The joint initiative
of Russian House International, companies servicing the Russian
speaking population, as well as a number of private individuals
to establish a new organisation - Association of Russian Speaking
Communities -- which for the first time would have a mass
and easy-access membership, was thoroughly discussed.
More than 200 delegates, participants and guests have converged
on the London's Cavendish Conference Centre. Amongst them
were representatives of Russian speaking communities from
fifteen European countries, as well as guests from Russia
and the United States; diplomats, representatives of the Clergy.
Three TV channels, two radio stations and over twenty journalists
from British, Russian and other media outlets were accredited
to the Conference.
Interesting speeches were made. Professor of History Oleg
Budnitsky gave an opening address which included an interesting
excursion into the curious history of Russian emigration to
Europe during the last 500 years. Alexander Goryanin, Moscow-based
political scientist and writer, urged Russian speaking diaspora
to unite, to form a really popular organisation which would
help expatriates to obtain full legitimate status and raise
their standard of living. He gave an example of the Chinese
diaspora, a solid community which is actively and to mutual
advantage collaborates with its historic Motherland.
The importance of retaining the Russian language and culture
while living outside Russia was emphasised in their speeches
by writers Vadim Fadin and Kira Sapguir who live in Germany
and France, respectively. Dr Boris Gershunsky - a U.S.-based
academic who travelled to the Conference from Washington,
D.C., underscored the necessity of a solid structure in order
to unite successfully.
British representative Felicity Cave, professional linguist
and interpreter, shared with the Conference participants her
view of the Russian speaking community in the U.K. According
to her, image for the Russian people is greatly distorted
in the West. For instance, they are often arbitrarily portrayed
as being the "Russian mafia". In reality, however, Russian
speaking Europeans are conducting normal life, have normal
jobs, try to give best education to their children, go on
holiday abroad.
Many speakers focused on the role of the media, especially
television, which could have a very significant influence
on the process of uniting the Russian diaspora. Support of
culture, maintaining and developing well-rounded multifaceted
relations with ex-Soviet Union countries were also emphasised.
Another issue which was accentuated was the necessity of building
new organisation based on principles of non-discrimination
of any kind, especially ethnic and religious. Other practical
issues included Russian language schools of which there are
too few in Western Europe and support of already existing
Russian speaking centres and small groups.
Vladimir Bobkov, Chairman of the Board of Slavyankiy Bazaar
Group opened a new and usually unexplored subject of helping
member of the Russian speaking community economically. One
of the possibilities, for example, was the so-called "mutual
assistance fund", or in other words a micro-lending facility,
a well-known phenomenon to everybody who used to work in the
Soviet Union in the communist era. Soft loans for small businesses
and promising start-ups could be another option. There was
no doubt, Mr Bobkov said, that sponsorship would initially
play an important role in building the Association's financial
base. With time, however, the organisation should be able
to a large extent support itself and significantly help its
members. It will also be easier for a large organisation with
mass membership to negotiate with corporations, for example,
airlines, in the attempt to get discounts and/or preferential
terms for its members. Generally speaking, businessmen with
ideas and imagination should have a lot of food for thought
and a big scope for activities with the inception of the Association.
In his summing up Vladimir Voronoff, founder and chairman
of Russian House International, outlined main areas in which
the Association will first and foremost develop its activities,
the principles of its formation and basic structure. He also
confirmed that the main legal work to register the new body
with the U.K. Charity Commission had already been completed
and that the official application would follow shortly. The
following Committees were formed: Social and Economic Committee,
Committee for Relationship with the Former Soviet Union, Culture
and Arts Committee, Committee for Relationships with European
Bodies and Media Relationship Committee (which would primarily
focus on forming a common Russian speaking information space).
Many participants and delegates singed up for membership in
Committees.
Mr Voronoff also touched upon future political activities
of the Association. He specifically stressed that in today's
Russia almost every activity is heavily politicised, and this
was precisely what the Association wanted to avoid. The new
organisation is to be strictly a private initiative supported
by Russian speaking communities in many countries and will
not identify itself with any government body. At the same
time he declared the Association to be ready and open to actively
cooperate with any. Lobbying for the Russian diaspora's interests,
for the advancement of its members was, however, a different
matter. By joining the Association members obtain the greatly
needed legal status which will allow them to assert and enhance
their rights, and work together towards raising of their living
standards.
Before the Association's website is fully functioning, the
Organising Committee and East European Media Group, which
was the organiser of the Conference on behalf of Russian House
International, will regularly distribute information about
events taking place in the life of new organisation.
Please, address your questions and/or suggestions to Julia
Draper or Lolita Eppey at:
Tel. +44 (0)20 7495 8105
Fax: +44 (0)20 7495 8106
e-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
London, 22 November 2002
|
