The organizers of the Sochi Dialogue are holding landmark events at the St. Petersburg Cultural Forum
The organizers of the Russian-Austrian forum "Sochi Dialogue" held a number of important events within the framework of the round table at the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum (November 14-16, 2019): the discussion "Culture and children", the presentation of the 100th Salzburg Festival and the lecture "Russia and the EU — opponents or partners".
From November 14 to 16, 2019, the VIII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum was held, the main theme of which this year was "Cultural codes in the context of globalization". The Forum is organized annually by the Government of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of St. Petersburg, it is deservedly recognized as a world-class cultural event that annually attracts thousands of outstanding figures of culture and science, public leaders, government and business representatives.
The Russian-Austrian civil society forum "Sochi Dialogue" took part in the preparation and holding of a number of events within the framework of the Forum. Among them: the presentation of the director of the Salzburg Festival Helga Rable-Stadler "100 years of the Salzburg Festival" and a lecture by Dr. Christoph Leitl "Russia and the EU-opponents or partners", dedicated to the common prospects for the development of Europe and Russia as a historical and cultural part of Europe. Also, with the support of the forum "Sochi Dialogue", a discussion "Culture and children" was held within the section "Ballet and Dance" under the leadership of the People's Artist of Russia Boris Eifman.
The round table "Culture and Children", moderated on November 14 by Andrey Fursenko, Co-chair of the Sochi Dialogue and Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, was devoted to the discussion of introducing younger generations to the values of high culture as a key component of educational work.
Working with young people is one of the priorities of the Sochi Dialogue Youth Forum. Boris Eifman, Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theater, said: "As you know, the education of young generations is the introduction of them to the values of high culture. This is a key component not only of the educational process, but also of any work with children."
This topic was also discussed on November 15 at a meeting of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev with cultural and art figures on the sidelines of the VIII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum. Among the participants were the President of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Co-chairman of the Sochi Dialogue Forum Christoph Leitl, President of the Salzburg Music Festival Helga Rable-Stadler, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Co-Chairman of the Sochi Dialogue Forum Andrey Fursenko.
In his speech at the meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, Christoph Leitl stressed the special importance of culture not only for the relations between the two countries, but also for future generations: "Many thanks to everyone. Together with Mr. Fursenko, I represent the Sochi Dialogue, a dialogue between Russia and Austria. And in this area, culture is of great importance, it plays a huge role. And the Salzburg Festival is, certainly, an significant partner for Russian theaters. I'm asking you to do this. Please think about the young people, the younger generation. They have a future; they have their whole life ahead of them. They don't look back, they look forward. And culture can be a bridge that can help us look into the future, so that this future becomes beautiful."
The presentation "100 years of the Salzburg Festival: keeper of traditions and trendsetter" was held on November 16 and was dedicated to the traditions and latest trends of the Salzburg Festival and the creative ties between Austria and Russia. The Russian program will be one of the main ones at the Salzburg Festival in 2020. During the festival, the next full-scale meeting of the Sochi Dialogue Forum will be held.
As Helga Rable-Stadler, director of the festival and a member of the Sochi Dialogue Coordinating Council, points out: "Human dialogue exists everywhere — not everything should be decided at the government level... The Sochi Dialogue between Russia and Austria will continue to exist, and next year the forum will be held during the Salzburg Festival, to emphasize also that the festival is aimed at protecting and maintaining peace."
In parallel with the main program of the forum, on November 15, in the new space of the SPbPU "Boiling Point", Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University hosted a lecture by the Honorary President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Co-chairman of the Sochi Dialogue Forum, Dr. Christoph Leitl, "Russia and the EU — opponents or partner?". The venue of the lecture was not chosen by chance — it is the generation of today's students who will determine how relations between Russia and Austria will develop. "Only in the format of open dialogue and continuous communication, we have the opportunity to productively develop international partnerships and achieve goals, we should not lose sight of a common perspective and a common future," said Dr. Christoph Leitl.
The lecture at the VIII St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum was not the first time Dr. Leitl spoke to the Russian youth. He has already addressed SPbPU students and answered their questions during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2019, and in September, Russian students took part in the international youth forum EYFON, organized with the support of the Sochi Dialogue Forum and Christoph Leitl.
"I see the enormous work that the Sochi Dialogue Forum is doing in the field of cultural interaction between Russia and Austria, and it is also extremely important for international economic cooperation," says Dmitry Lubinsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Austria. — I would especially like to note the achievements of the forum in establishing ties between the Austrian and Russian youth of various regions of our countries. By studying the phenomenon of the interpenetration of cultures, defending the principles of cultural equality and free cultural exchange, the Sochi Dialogue promotes the strengthening of partnership between our economies and the formation of a positive basis for the long-term integration processes of our countries."
The Sochi Dialogue Forum is a platform for establishing and developing direct contacts between representatives of civil societies of Russia and Austria. The mission of the Sochi Dialogue is to facilitate the exchange of views and ideas between citizens and prominent figures in various spheres of public life: culture, education, economy, science, sports, and many others, as well as in the implementation of the most popular projects that offer solutions to problems of concern to society.
The Sochi Dialogue was established on March 12, 2018, and the statement on its establishment was signed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. In June 2018, the Presidents of Russia and Austria, Vladimir Putin and Alexander van der Bellen, agreed to promote the implementation of the plans and ideas of the Sochi Dialogue Forum. The Sochi Dialogue is co-chaired by the President of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry Eurochambres and the President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in 2000-2018 Christoph Leitl and Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation from 2004-2012 Andrey Fursenko.
