Lord Falconer travels to Moscow on Trust visit
November/December 2009
The Chairman of the Trust, Lord Falconer, led a Trust team on a visit to Moscow from November 29th to December 2nd 2009. The purpose of the visit was to promote the 2010 Fellowship Programme and continue preparation work for the creation of a JSMT-Russia Fund to be registered in Moscow in the New Year. This Fund will allow Russian companies who want to support the work of the Trust in Russia to donate money which will be managed and spent within the Russian Federation. The Trust is very grateful to Roger Munnings, Irina Narysheva and Anna Voronkova from KPMG Moscow for their help with the process of registration. The development of the fund was discussed at a special fund raising breakfast organised by Michael Cuthbert and Jan Ter Harr at Clifford Chance.
L-R Trust Director Brian Brivati, 2007 JS Fellow Maxim Chereshnev, Trust Chairman Lord Falconer, and Trustee Roger Munnings at the fundraising breakfast held at Clifford Chance
Lord Falconer and Trust Director, Brian Brivati, discussed the fund with representatives of Moscow law and accountancy firms, including our current corporate sponsor White & Case represented by Herman Schmitt. Lord Falconer also visited the offices of Trust sponsor Renaissance Group and met with Deputy CEO Hans Jochum Horn to discuss their continuing support, held talks with Alexander Voloshin (CEO of Norilsk Nickel) and Sergei Guriev, Rector of the New Economic School about future co-operation with the Trust.
There were two evening events during the visit. Lord Falconer addressed a dinner of the Association of European Businesses. Discussing the political situation in the UK and the prospects for the government at the next general election, he remained curiously optimistic about a Labour victory, but stressed that whatever happened in the UK, the JSMT would continue working to improve bilateral relations.
John Smith Fellows at the Ambassador's residence with HMA Anne Pringle, Lord Falconer, Roger Munnings and Brian Brivati
The British Ambassador generously opened her residence for an evening reception. This featured a discussion between Igor Yurgens (Chairman of the Management Board of the Institute of Contemporary Development) and Roger Munnings about prospects for economic recovery and reform in Russia. In an open and frank discussion there was a penetrating analysis of the weaknesses of the current style of governance in Russia but an emphasis on reform fatigue after twenty years of constant change. Mr Yurgens argued that the key to the future lay in a reform of the party system underpinned by long term “strategic patience”. The reception guests also heard from two John Smith Fellows - Maxim Chereshnev (Just Russia) and Prof Dr Dmitry Polikanov (United Russia) about their experiences on the Fellowship. The Trust will be returning to Moscow in January to interview candidates for the 2010 Programme and in February 2010 to launch the JSMT-Russia Fund.