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THE CAUCASUS CULTURAL VECTOR
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 16 2015
16 January 2015 - 12:55pm
Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza
This week Dmitry Medvedev stated at a meeting with library workers
that it is absurd to cover humanitarian cooperation with anti-Russian
sanctions. According to Medvedev, it mostly damages those who
launch the sanctions: "Humanitarian cooperation is an opportunity
to influence; if you distance yourself from it, it means you don't
want to influence." The South Caucasus countries aren't distancing
themselves from Russia in the humanitarian and cultural spheres; on
the contrary, cooperation gains new forms. Mikhail Shvydkoy, special
Russian presidential envoy for international cultural cooperation,
told Vestnik Kavkaza about them.
- What are the prospects of expanding cultural cooperation with the
countries of the South Caucasus?
- Traditionally, we hold very big, large cultural campaigns with the
countries of the South Caucasus, of course. Just recently, a very
successful inter-museum meeting was held, with authorities of the
leading museums of Russia - the museums of the Kremlin, the Tretyakov
Gallery, the Russian Museum. The meeting took place in Yerevan, and
a related memorandum of understanding on cooperation between museums
of Armenia and Russia was signed. Traditionally, Yerevan hosts the
Forum of Translators. It will be held very soon, and it is a very
important event. In the summer of 2015, another International Aram
Khachaturian Contest will be held, it attracts performers from all
countries of the post-Soviet space too, more than that, many from far
abroad. Many, I repeat, bilateral and multilateral events will happen,
the Golden Apricot Cinema Festival with Armenia, and so on.
Traditionally, Russia has very serious contacts with Azerbaijan.
Besides the large forum held every autumn, it will be the fifth Baku
International Humanitarian Forum, it was founded under the patronage
of two presidents - the president of Russia and the president of
Azerbaijan. The forum has become one of the most prestigious platforms
for discussions of fundamental problems of general people's existence,
if you will. This year, the Baku Forum will be dedicated to the
intercultural dialogue held by Azerbaijan, but it is traditionally
visited by all our neighbours, including Russia.
- Russia has good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan in other
spheres as well. What can you say about cultural cooperation with
Georgia?
- Naturally, we have quite complicated relations with Georgia.
However, they develop, and develop quite successfully. The
Vakhtangov Theater has recently put on performances there with
tremendous success. Now we expect Georgia to be visited by a series
of Moscow theaters. The Russian Cinema Festival in Georgia has become
traditional. There are many contacts in the form of artistic exchanges,
I mean presentations of artists and so on. I must say that Georgian
artists are always very needed in Moscow. I do not mean such stars
as, let's say, Nani Bregvadze, there are also artists representing
the young generation of Georgian performers. Georgia has raised a
wonderful cast of popular music performers, it is indeed a unique
phenomenon. In other words, Georgian variety theater, not only the
traditional harmonized music that has been so impressive, is very
important. You see, the presence in Moscow of Robert Sturua, who is
the director of the Et Cetera Theater [where Alexander Kalyagin is the
art director], is a very important sign, because the Georgian spirit
has always been present in Moscow's theater life. So there are many
contacts, the contacts are expanding, and I think that 2015 will not
be an exception.
Naturally, the marking of the 70th anniversary of the victory will
be a special highlight this year. It is our common victory, and
all nations of the North and South Caucasus took part in the Great
Patriotic War, and I think that it is an important festival uniting
us all to a great extent.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/culture/64761.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 16 2015
16 January 2015 - 12:55pm
Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza
This week Dmitry Medvedev stated at a meeting with library workers
that it is absurd to cover humanitarian cooperation with anti-Russian
sanctions. According to Medvedev, it mostly damages those who
launch the sanctions: "Humanitarian cooperation is an opportunity
to influence; if you distance yourself from it, it means you don't
want to influence." The South Caucasus countries aren't distancing
themselves from Russia in the humanitarian and cultural spheres; on
the contrary, cooperation gains new forms. Mikhail Shvydkoy, special
Russian presidential envoy for international cultural cooperation,
told Vestnik Kavkaza about them.
- What are the prospects of expanding cultural cooperation with the
countries of the South Caucasus?
- Traditionally, we hold very big, large cultural campaigns with the
countries of the South Caucasus, of course. Just recently, a very
successful inter-museum meeting was held, with authorities of the
leading museums of Russia - the museums of the Kremlin, the Tretyakov
Gallery, the Russian Museum. The meeting took place in Yerevan, and
a related memorandum of understanding on cooperation between museums
of Armenia and Russia was signed. Traditionally, Yerevan hosts the
Forum of Translators. It will be held very soon, and it is a very
important event. In the summer of 2015, another International Aram
Khachaturian Contest will be held, it attracts performers from all
countries of the post-Soviet space too, more than that, many from far
abroad. Many, I repeat, bilateral and multilateral events will happen,
the Golden Apricot Cinema Festival with Armenia, and so on.
Traditionally, Russia has very serious contacts with Azerbaijan.
Besides the large forum held every autumn, it will be the fifth Baku
International Humanitarian Forum, it was founded under the patronage
of two presidents - the president of Russia and the president of
Azerbaijan. The forum has become one of the most prestigious platforms
for discussions of fundamental problems of general people's existence,
if you will. This year, the Baku Forum will be dedicated to the
intercultural dialogue held by Azerbaijan, but it is traditionally
visited by all our neighbours, including Russia.
- Russia has good relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan in other
spheres as well. What can you say about cultural cooperation with
Georgia?
- Naturally, we have quite complicated relations with Georgia.
However, they develop, and develop quite successfully. The
Vakhtangov Theater has recently put on performances there with
tremendous success. Now we expect Georgia to be visited by a series
of Moscow theaters. The Russian Cinema Festival in Georgia has become
traditional. There are many contacts in the form of artistic exchanges,
I mean presentations of artists and so on. I must say that Georgian
artists are always very needed in Moscow. I do not mean such stars
as, let's say, Nani Bregvadze, there are also artists representing
the young generation of Georgian performers. Georgia has raised a
wonderful cast of popular music performers, it is indeed a unique
phenomenon. In other words, Georgian variety theater, not only the
traditional harmonized music that has been so impressive, is very
important. You see, the presence in Moscow of Robert Sturua, who is
the director of the Et Cetera Theater [where Alexander Kalyagin is the
art director], is a very important sign, because the Georgian spirit
has always been present in Moscow's theater life. So there are many
contacts, the contacts are expanding, and I think that 2015 will not
be an exception.
Naturally, the marking of the 70th anniversary of the victory will
be a special highlight this year. It is our common victory, and
all nations of the North and South Caucasus took part in the Great
Patriotic War, and I think that it is an important festival uniting
us all to a great extent.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/culture/64761.html