EUSP proudly hosted a delegation of the UN Foundation - one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the world, established by CNN founder Ted Turner. The UN Foundation Board members, including such famous figures as Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus and Hisashi Owada, came to EUSP to participate at the round table of leaders titled The Role of Russian Philanthropies in Tackling Global Problems. The discussion was also attended by Vice President of Summa Group Konstantin Panin, a representative of the Gazprom company, the Director of the State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky, professors and graduates of the European University at Saint Petersburg and others.
Global issues such as climate change, pollution and access to energy are already perceived as a real threat to humanity around the world. Today's global challenges are increasingly being discussed in the Russian society as well. What is the role of Russia in the development of responses to them, the prospects of participation of Russian society and business in the global action? Can the setting of global problems on the public agenda have a positive effect for deciding the internal Russian problems as well?
The round table discussion was opened by the welcome remarks of Mikhail Piotrovsky, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, EUSP and Director of the State Hermitage Museum. Kathy Calvin, the president and CEO of the UN Foundation, introduced the UNF Board members and provided an overview of the Foundation followed by an introduction of all round table participants. In an overview of the current philanthropic situation in Russia Maria Morozova, the Executive Director of the Ladoga Foundation, provided a brief account of what they have been doing recently and told about the foundation’s projects, goals and vision.
The discussion that followed the initial presentations and brief speeches was moderated by the EUSP Rector Oleg Kharkhordin, who noted that in terms of arguments to use with Russian businessmen preaching does not help much. Therefore, one of his main questions was about how attention to global issues will help to tackle problems in Russia.
Summa Group’s Vice President Konstantin Panin focused on Dagestan, saying that it is a well-known region with beautiful land, people, history, culture and nature. But its image and the population have suffered because of terrorism during the last several years. His question then was about how we can help them and make some change, ensure a better life. As an example, Summa Group has linked local craftsmen and carpenters with furniture producers in London which have already started to work with the Dagestani masters. They have also sponsored a number of projects aiming to promote the image of Dagestan globally ‘so that the world knows about the region’ more and better. Mr. Panin had also brought a photo-album with pictures from Dagestan, he passed it around the table before finishing his short speech about Summa Group’s philanthropic activities in one of Russia’s most troubled republics.
Our philanthropists often make the first step, but do not make the second, - noted Oleg Kharkhordin and passed the floor to Andrej Novak, President of the EUSP Alumni Association and an alumnus of EUSP International Programs, asking him what Russia could offer to the world. Mr. Novak told the guests that some 14 years ago when he had just started studying about Russia he had the impression that the country is rich with resources and has come to the conclusion that what is needed is the consciousness of locals about global issues. As an example, Novak said, the EUSP Alumni Association has been aiming to work for the benefit of others as well through its travel grant program and other initiatives.
Professor Nikita Lomagin’s comment was articulate and somewhat defiant. I wish we had as much enlightened billionaires,- he said,- but we have a lack of culture of philanthropy. We don’t have much autonomy and we have just recently understood what soft security means,- he continued. Lomagin remembered how Russia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov (who was, by the way, present at the round table) had for the first time confirmed publicly in 2003 that HIV/AIDS is not just a global but also a Russian issue. The very notion of responsibility in Russia has basically referred only to the post-Soviet space and Russian expertise should be working internationally to fight many issues including energy poverty. Nevertheless,- Lomagin repeated,- I wish we and our rich people had enough political autonomy.
Neal Kumar, an alumnus of the EUSP International Programs, also talked about the oil and gas sectors in Russia and in the USA, noting that there is some competition in that sphere in Russia recently.
Nobel Peace Prize recipient and the founder of the Bangladeshi Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus stated that one of the best ways to be effective is to have a fresh look at issues without copying what has been done. Create businesses that create businesses,- he said, - instead of charities. Charity, as Mr. Yunus said, is not sustainable and it is lost once it reaches the recipient. Hisashi Owada, a judge on the International Court of Justice and former ICJ president, made an interesting comparison of the USA, Europe and Russia with reference to their historical past. The USA, he finds, was created as an artificial state by dissidents, for whom the government was literally evil, but a necessary evil. Europe and Russia, as well as Japan in some terms, are similarly different from the USA. In these countries philanthropy was the business and responsibility of kings and princes. Once the latters disappeared, the responsibility fell upon the shoulders of the government and the state.
The discussion would have probably lasted much longer as the informal reception and talks showed later, but due to the limited amount of time the EUSP rector Oleg Kharkhordin thanked the guests and Russia’s former Foreign Minister, UN Foundation Board member Igor Ivanov for bringing his colleagues to the European University at St. Petersburg and suggested to continue the discussions at the EUSP White Hall after announcing that the official part of the round table was over. Kharkhordin added in conclusion, that the EUSP is the most international Russian university and the most Russian of all international universities. “We will continue doing our best for keeping up that name”, - he concluded.
Gevorg Avetikyan
