2007 Fellows Arrive in Edinburgh
On Tuesday 5th June 2007, twenty four young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Edinburgh to take part in the 2007 John Smith Fellowship Programme.
2007 Fellows with the new Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson in the Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber
The five-week Programme begins in Edinburgh where Fellows learn about devolution and local self-governance, meeting Members of Scottish Parliament and the Presiding Officer, and observing First Minister’s Questions. The Programme began with a team-building session facilitated by LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) enabling Fellows to get to know each other and work together in a variety of ways.
Fellows take part in a team building activity
A highlight for many Fellows was the visit to the Scottish Parliament. The new Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson welcomed the group to the parliament. He gave a presentation in which he spoke about the Scottish Parliament, his role as Presiding Officer, and his election to that post. The 2007 group were also able to observe First Minister’s Questions and were given a tour of the parliament and the debating chamber. A number of MSPs attended lunch with the Fellows, including John Wilson (Scottish National Party), Robin Harper (Scottish Green Party), Iain Smith (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Helen Eadie (Scottish Labour), and Frank McAveety (Scottish Labour). The MSPs kindly answered questions put to them by Fellows, discussing a number of topics ranging from transport and the environment, to the role of women in parliament and the media.
Alex Fergusson talks to the Fellows in the Scottish Parliament
Photo courtesy of John McConville, Campaign HQ
The group then attended a workshop and discussion on the Freedom of Information Act. This was led by the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (CIS) and Fellows were able to compare this to similar legislation in their own countries.
Scottish Information Commissioner workshop
Photo courtesy of John McConville, Campaign HQ
The Fellows were formally welcomed to Scotland by JSMT Chairman Lord Robertson at the Trust’s Formal Welcome Dinner. Trustees, Advisors, supporters and friends of the Trust spent an enjoyable evening with Fellows at Howies Restaurant in Edinburgh.
Lord Robertson welcomes the 2007 Fellows Azeri Fellow Fariz Ismailzade gives
a speech at the dinner
Photos courtesy of John McConville, Campaign HQ
Trust supporters Scottish & Newcastle plc also hosted a reception for the group. Kieran Simpson, Head of Public Affairs at Scottish & Newcastle plc, gave a presentation on economic policy in business and government, providing Fellows with a view of their own countries from the perspective of a major international company investing in the CIS. During their time in Scotland, Fellows also visited the Law Courts and Edinburgh Prison with Trustee and Former Solicitor General of Scotland, Lord McCluskey, who gave Fellows a unique insight into the UK judicial system.
The Programme in Edinburgh also includes a Seminar Series on democracy, good governance and civil society, organised by Global Partners & Associates. As part of the Edinburgh Seminar Series, Trustee Professor Peter Frank led a session on ‘The Problems of Democracy’. Human Rights expert Carole Ewart spoke about the balance between human rights and security. Professor David Coates, Associate Director of The Work Foundation, led a session on the global economy and national economic policy making. Other lecture and workshop topics included: Making Markets Work, Foreign Policy Making and Principles of Intervention, and Protecting Citizen’s Rights.
Fellows then spent two weeks on an attachment period, pursuing a programme of individual meetings and work placements tailored to their particular needs and interests. As part of her attachment programme, Armenian Fellow Natalia Harutyunyan who is Armenia Field Coordinator and Founding Member of the Civil Society Development NGO, spent time at Bradford City Council, the UK Refugee Council, and the Immigration Advisory Service. During the attachment period Trust supporter the Ministry of Justice organised a day of seminars for Fellows, hosted by Clifford Chance at their office in London. Joan Borley, European and International Division, Ministry of Justice welcomed the group and gave an overview of the work of the Ministry. Presentations were given by a number of experts on Electoral Policy, Freedom of Information, Human Rights, Her Majesty’s Court Service, and the National Offender Management Service.
Joan Borley (Ministry of Justice) speaks at the seminar day for Fellows hosted by Clifford Chance
After the attachment period, Fellows and invited guests attended one of the highlights of the Programme – the annual Weekend Retreat sponsored by the Leadership Trust. Over the weekend, Fellows and guests discussed and debated Media Regulation in the UK, Press Responsibility and Freedom, and Tackling Corruption. Speakers included: John Newbigin, former Head of Corporate Relations at Channel 4 TV; John Carr, Chairman of the Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety; Mike Jempson, Director, MediaWise Trust; Andrei Kurkov, Novelist; and Laurence Cockcroft, Director, Transparency International UK.
The Fellows then take part in a second Seminar Series in London organised by Global Partners & Associates. Sessions and workshops were held on: Public Opinion and Policy, Multiculturalism, the European Union, Conflict Resolution, Role of Civil Society in the CIS, and Public Sector Reform. Fellows also visited the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Royal Society of Arts, the Houses of Parliament, and Demos Think Tank. On 3rd July 2007, award-winning journalist and historian Misha Glenny gave a lecture as part of the 2007 John Smith Fellowship Programme titled ‘Walking on the Wilde Side: Crime and Corruption in a Globalised World’. The lecture was hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) at their headquarters in London and was attended by over 150 invited guests who also enjoyed a reception at the bank afterwards. For the past three years, Mr. Glenny has been conducting research for his forth-coming book on trans-national organised crime. He has travelled to most parts of the world, talking to gangsters, policemen, victims and politicians in mapping the scale of the shadow economy since the advent of globalisation. In a fascinating presentation, Mr. Glenny spoke passionately about his research giving his own personal experiences of corruption. Misha cited globalisation and the collapse of communism as driving forces behind the advance of the ‘shadow economy’ since the 1980s.
The Prime Ministers greets 2007 Georgian Fellow Lali Papiashvili MP
Photo Courtesy of John McConville, Campaign HQ
The Fellowship Programme concluded with a Final Day at No.11 Downing Street where Fellows reported to Trustees, Advisors and invited guests on issues they explored during their time in the UK and how they plan to apply this knowledge on their return home. This was followed by an award ceremony where Fellows were presented with certificates signed by the Lord Chancellor, the Trust Chairman Lord Robertson, and the Chief Executive of the British Council. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP, kindly hosted a reception for Fellows, sponsors, Attachment Hosts and friends of the Trust during the evening. At the reception the Chancellor paid tribute to Baroness Smith for the inspiration she has given to the Fellowship Programme. The 2007 Fellows were enormously honoured and privileged to meet the new Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP. The Prime Minister, who was a close friend of John Smith, has been a long-time supporter of the Trust. He took the time to meet and chat with each of our Fellows and congratulated the Trust for providing such a fitting memorial to John Smith. The 2007 Fellowship Programme was a huge success and concluded with a final dinner hosted by Lord Robertson at One Great George Street.