A friend in need is a friend indeed: the future of people’s diplomacy discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA
Cultural, humanitarian and public initiatives play a key role in strengthening international cooperation and preserving historical memory. This conclusion was reached by experts at the plenary session "Joint Efforts to Preserve Peace and the Harmonious Development of Nations". The event took place on 26 October at the National Centre RUSSIA as part of the International Cooperation Forum dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Institute of People’s Diplomacy.
"The Great Patriotic War and the Second World War are examples of the role played by people’s diplomacy in helping soldiers and nations that fought against Nazism. This is a great lesson for all of us today, as the world undergoes another historic turning point," emphasised the session’s moderator, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoy.
Over the past 100 years, people’s diplomacy has come a long way — from the secret delivery of Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony to London during the war to assisting Russian citizens abroad during the pandemic. This was highlighted by Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry’s Official Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed, and today we can clearly see who stands with us in defending truth and justice. Our common task is to do everything possible to prevent a global war, to ensure we never again have to secretly send symphonies or open our doors to those fleeing Nazism. Let us triple, or even multiply tenfold, our efforts and understand that it depends on each of us whether reason, the awareness of human fragility and the value of peace remain on this planet — or whether we are once again driven into the abyss of global cataclysms," urged Maria Zakharova.
Europe cannot evolve without Russian culture, said Serbian film director Emir Kusturica during the forum.
"When you say 'We do not want Russian culture', what you are really saying is 'We do not want the evolution of European culture — we want it to end here'. Western Enlightenment has always denied Russian culture. This Enlightenment of the Western world and liberal capitalism is brought to the forefront, and this may well be one of the consequences of the war against Russia," said Emir Kusturica. "When Europe fought against communism, it was in fact fighting against the building blocks of the 20th century. Because Russia has preserved true European values, and today Russian diplomats are offering the world an alternative to the liberal order that leads to the erosion of traditional foundations."
Maria Zakharova expanded on this idea and shared a personal experience: "While working in New York, I encountered a remarkable phenomenon — many local residents simply did not understand basic things. When an American shop assistant once asked why a Russian woman could have a ‘Latin American’ name, Maria, I realised the depth of the problem. We must start enlightenment with simple but fundamental matters — the modern Western world has lost its connection even with its own cultural and religious roots."
Uzbek film director Eldar Yuldashev shared his successful experience of cultural integration, stressing the important role of art in building allied relations.
"The Tashkent Film Festival of the Countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America has become a platform that unites filmmakers from the Global South. In the Soviet era, this festival set the tone for the film industry and was not merely a film market, but a true hub of cultural exchange where the so-called ‘Third Cinema’ — anti-Hollywood and anti-European — was born. Today, it is important not only to feel nostalgic but to rebuild such bridges of cooperation that have already proven their effectiveness," said Eldar Yuldashev.
Speakers at the plenary session also included pilot-cosmonaut and Hero of the Soviet Union Pham Tuan (Vietnam); Head of the Yunus Emre Institute Ali Abdurrahman (Turkey); Head of the film company "Alkebuland Studios" Tarirro Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe); and writer, poet, novelist and journalist Ibrahim Dawood (Egypt).
The International Cooperation Forum is being held from 25 to 27 October. Its key themes include cooperation in culture and science, achieving genuine sovereignty, supporting development, combating neocolonialism and neo-Nazism, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and addressing global challenges such as hunger, illiteracy and lack of rights.
The organisers of the Forum are the National Centre RUSSIA, Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian society Znanie, and the Roscongress Foundation. The general partner is PSB Bank PJSC.
