Archived News
British Council Library Opens in Bishkek
On the 19th January 2007, the Deputy Director of British Council Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan, Paul Norton, and several senior representatives from the Kyrgyz government opened a new centre of British Literature and Education at the National Library of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek. Read More
The John Smith Memorial Trust welcomes young Moldovan political leaders to the UK
On 18th February 2007 six young Moldovan political leaders arrived in the UK to take part in a week long programme organised by the John Smith Memorial Trust on behalf of the UK Embassy in Moldova. Read More
Kenneth Munro heads roundtable discussion in Europe, attended by John Smith Fellows in Armenia
On 16th January 2007, Kenneth Munro, Deputy Chairman of the John Smith Memorial Trust Advisory Board, travelled to Armenia in order to promote the work of the Trust and to interview applicants for the 2007 Programme. Read More
CEGSTAR hosts international conference on 'Effective Democratic Governance'
On December 4-5 2006, the Center for Effective Governance Systems and Territorial Arrangement Reforms (CEGSTAR) organised a two-day international conference on ‘Effective Democratic Governance at Local and Regional Levels’. Read More
George Ugulava, 2002 Fellow, elected Mayor of Tbilisi
On October 12th 2006, George Ugulava was elected as Mayor of Tbilisi by the Tbilisi city council. The Trust warmly congratulates Gigi on his election which has been welcomed by Georgian Fellows. George, a 2002 Fellow, had previously been appointed as Mayor of Tbilisi on 14th July 2005. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Minister of Justice and as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of State Security.
“Transition: 15 Years of Building the Future” - 2006 Fellow speaks at the EBRD's 15th Anniversary Conference
A John Smith Fellow from Georgia, Nana Janashia, joined an impressive panel of speakers at the 15th Anniversary Conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at its London headquarters on the 28th November. Read More
All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova visits Chisinau - inspired by John Smith Fellows
Members of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Moldova have just returned from an official visit to Chisinau on the invitation of the Moldovan Parliament. Heading the delegation was the Group’s Chairman, Lord Dubs of Battersea, who is also a member of the John Smith Trust Advisory Board. Read More
Baroness Stern travels to Baku to promote Penal Reform - inspired by John Smith Fellow, Ramil Isganderov
On 2nd October 2006, Trust supporters Baroness Stern and David Croft joined Deputy Director Joanna Lamb in Baku in order to encourage applications to the 2007 Fellowship Programme. Read More
Damian Green MP meets Georgian MPs to share UK experience of engaging with constituencies
Trust Deputy Director Damian Green MP travelled to Georgia from the 24th-28th September on a mission to share his experience as an active constituency MP with Georgian 'majoritaire' MPs representing local districts. Read More
Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP visits Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod to promote Fellowship Programme
On 11th September 2006 Sir Malcolm Rifkind joined Trustee Baroness Smith and Deputy Director Joanna Lamb in Russia in order to promote the work of the John Smith Memorial Trust and to encourage applications to the 2007 Fellowship Programme. Read More
John Smith Fellow appointed Permanent Representative of Moldova to the United Nations
On 11th September 2006, Alexei Tulbure, 2000 John Smith Fellow from Moldova, became the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations. Read More
Lord Patten gives lecture on China's Return to the World Stage
On Thursday 15th June 2006, the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes gave a lecture in honour of the 2006 John Smith Fellows on the growth of the Chinese economy and its impact for Europe and the rest of the world. Read More
2006 Fellows arrive in Edinburgh
On Monday 5th June 2006, twenty four young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Edinburgh to take part in the 2006 John Smith Fellowship Programme. Read More
2004 Fellow Poghos Shahinyan launches Road Safety Campaign in Armenia
On Thursday 11 May 2006, 2004 Fellow Poghos Shahinyan officially launched the National Road Safety Council Armenia (NRSC) and their ‘Think Before You Drive’ road safety campaign in Yerevan. Read More
John Smith Fellow Olya Melen Awarded Prestigious International Prize
On 24th April 2006 it was announced that Olya Melen, 2004 Fellow from Ukraine, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world's largest prize honouring grassroots environmentalists. Read More
2006 John Smith Memorial Trust Networking Conference
Twenty John Smith Fellows travelled from seven countries across the Former Soviet Union to take part in the 2006 John Smith Fellowship Networking Conference, held in Chisinau, Moldova on 7th and 8th April. Read More
River Room Reception Held to Thank Trust Supporters
On Wednesday 15th March 2006 sponsors and supporters of the John Smith Memorial Trust gathered at a reception in the magnificent River Room of the Lord Chancellor's residence in the House of Lords. Read More
Deputy Chairman Sir Menzies Campbell elected Leader of Liberal Democrat Party
On Thursday 2 March 2006, Sir Menzies Campbell, a vice-chairman of the Trust, was elected Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party. We offer him our warmest congratulations. Please click here for a profile of Sir Menzies Campbell.
Baroness Smith honoured by the University of Birmingham
Baroness Smith, the widow of John Smith and founding Trustee of the Trust, was made an Honorary Doctor of the University of Birmingham on Friday 8th July.
Trust Chairman honoured by the Queen
Lord Robertson, Chairman of the Trust, was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen who bestowed on him one of the highest of honours in the United Kingdom, by making him a Knight of the Thistle: photographs of the occasion appear in Photo Gallery Two
2005 Networking Conference
Seventeen John Smith Fellows travelled from five countries across the Former Soviet Union to take part in the 2005 John Smith Fellowship Networking Conference, held in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia on 9th and 10th March. Read More
Oleg Serebrian, 2004 Fellow, elected to the Parliament
Oleg Serebrian, a 2004 Fellow, President of the Social Liberal Party, was elected on 6 March 2005 to the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The future for Moldova is still uncertain; but Moldovan Fellows are pleased that Oleg is in a position to influence events. The Trust congratulates him on his election. (see his photograph in Photo Gallery Two)
Sir Malcolm Rifkind leaves Trust Board
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, PC, QC, LL.D, has retired from the Board of Trustees. He was re-elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in the recent General Election. His wise contribution to the work of the Trust is much appreciated. We thank him for it and wish him well. (see his photograph in Photo Gallery Two)
Visits by Trust Representatives to our Fellowship countries (2005)
Armenia
Lord Dubs, who lectures each year at the Leadership Trust weekend, has been invited to Yerevan by Hayk Martirosyan (2004 Fellow)to speak at a high level conference on media regulation and reform on Nov. 2nd/3rd. The BC, Hayk and other Fellows are hoping to organise a reception.
Azerbaijan
Vice-Chairman, Sir Menzies Campbell, CBE, QC, MP, and the Trust Director, Emma MacLennan, visited Baku from 5th to 7th October 2005 to meet the Azeri Fellows and to promote understanding in Azerbaijan of the Trust's aims and methods.
Georgia
John Newbigin, well known to Fellows from his lectures on the regulation of the Media in UK, went to Tbilisi on behalf of the Trust in November 2005. He met with JS Fellows at a reception for him organised by the British Council.
Moldova
Misha Glenny, the distinguished journalist, went to Chisinau, Moldova, on behalf of the Trust, and spoke at a reception for Fellows and opinion formers organised by H.E Bernard Ambassador Whiteside on October 18th.
Kyrgyzstan
Lord McCluskey visited Kyrgyzstan from 25 - 30 October 2005. The planned programme had to be substantially altered because of political unrest, involving a serious 'picket' of parliament by some thousands of demonstrators. The purpose of the visit was to meet the Fellows, to spread knowledge of the Programme and understanding of its aims and methods, and to learn from the Fellows how their work was progressing. All the available Fellows attended various events. Lord McCluskey, with the help of the British Council and the Fellows, met several hundred people at different venues, including a Trust Reception, and gave a Press conference, which resulted in much publicity about the Trust and the Programme.
Ukraine
Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill (Elizabeth) and Catherine Smith have returned from Ukraine where they spent a week meeting Fellows and doing press work. They also attended a press briefing at the Embassy.