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An exclusive interview to the Student Information Agency «CLICK»

15.10.2017

Chairperson of the National Preparatory Committee of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students in the Russian Federation in 2017, Grigory Petushkov gave an exclusive interview to the Student Information Agency «CLICK»

— Tens of thousands of participants from 150 countries, huge scope, large-scale events. Tell us: how does the National Preparatory Committee of the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students live on the eve of the Festival events start? Is it possible to sleep at least sometimes?

It seems to me that the whole preparatory process for our Festival is like one big life. Of course, on the eve of such a massive event there are a large number of tasks of various scales that must be managed to be resolved. During this work we are interacting with the International Organizing Committee, which has been working in Russia on an ongoing basis since August, and the executive directorate. We are mainly engaged in preparing for the discussion program, the final mobilization of the youth organizations representatives, both our and foreign participants, various experts and special guests. It is very important in cases of this scale to be attentive to the concrete people problems. We try to make sure that everyone, involved in the Festival preparation or connected with the whole Festival movement, will have the right to a hearing. On the quality of this work depends the overall result and personal satisfaction from the well-done work on the implementation of our initiative. The more we will do, the calmer then the sleep will be.

— Few people know that it is the merit of the National Youth Council of Russia, which you chair, that initiated the decision to hold the Festival in Russia. Surely it was not easy?

Our country hosted the Festival twice: in 1957 and in 1985. In addition, Soviet youth organizations actively participated in the preparation and organization of all the Festival s without exception. At the heart of the Festival movement, originated in Prague in 1947, lie the ideas of peace, friendship and solidarity, which are still relevant today. My professional activities are connected with the youth policy and international cooperation, and I remember well that the proposals for the return of the Festival to Russia were repeatedly voiced by various people not indifferent to this topic. Several years ago, an appropriate decision was even prepared in the Federation Council. The main thing was not enough — the initiative of the youngest. In 2015, the National Youth Council of Russia, which has been uniting youth public organizations of our country for 25 years, made such an offer. With the support of Rosmolodozh (Federal Agency for Youth Affairs), we have prepared a relevant application to the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), which has been the main organizer of all Festivals since 1947.
First of all, it was important for us to formulate tasks in such a way as to take into account the interests of all, including various political youth associations. During the preparing for the Festival, we managed to gather at one table and organize a dialogue between representatives of completely different youth associations, youth wings of all parliamentary parties. This was the first great achievement, testifying to the possibilities of the Festival movement, of its role in the consolidation of the youth movement in Russia. Soon the application was presented at the General Assembly of the WFDY where it was supported by the majority of participants. Its role was played by the fact that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution, the 60th anniversary of the 6th Moscow Festival, and the fact that the Festival returns to the European continent again. A few months later, after long negotiations and approvals, a meeting was held in Moscow, where Russia was officially recognized as the host country of the 19th WFYS. In the official document following the meeting, WFDY noted that the decision was positive mainly on the basis that we were able to show the consolidation of the majority of the largest public youth and student associations of our country. A huge help in the support of our initiative was provided by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, which at that time was headed by Sergei Pospelov. The fact that we managed to achieve the return of the Festival to Russia by common efforts became an example of successful and effective interaction of the state and civil society.

— During the preparation of the application and the implementation of this initiative — what tasks and goals stood in the first place for you?

First of all, to accomplish the most of our plans. It’s not a secret that such events are being prepared for a long time, and we had only 2 years at our disposal. Of course, among the main tasks was the consolidation of Russian youth organizations for further joint constructive work for the benefit of the youth and the country. In addition, it was important for us that the Festival in Sochi would not only contribute to the internal unification of the youth movement of Russia, but also open new opportunities for expanding international youth cooperation, taking into account already existing experience, ties and international projects. In my opinion, today there is an urgent need to expand contacts in the international youth environment, as well as the need for constant, systematic work to protect the interests of the Russian Federation in the youth non-governmental sector. The Festival contributes to the achievement of these goals, creating conditions for their implementation and defining in many ways our common agenda and work plan for the future. Already today a great number of large and small projects have been created to preserve the heritage of the 19th Festival, among them is the recreation of a common platform for systematic work in the field of international youth cooperation, based on the experience of the USSR Committee of Youth Organizations. It is also important that the different generations representatives take part in the preparation of the grandiose event. You might have noticed that when anybody refer to the Festival, the term «return» is often used. We stress this with a purpose. After all, in our country, this grandiose youth Festival is not just passing — it really comes back! The holiday that was the part of our grandfathers’ and grandmothers’, moms’ and dads’ life comes back. And it’s really great when modern youth leaders have the opportunity to dialogue with older comrades. It is not only unique experience and knowledge or constructive dialogue of generations about the past and future of youth policy, but also an invaluable human communication with legendary personalities.
Strengthening the link between generations was originally the basis of our desire to hold a Festival in Russia. And, of course, the principle of succession was a priority for us in the preparation for the Festival. At all stages, we consulted with the veterans of the Festival Movement, their accumulated experience and wisdom helped a lot in solving many difficult problems.

— What are the advantages of Russia in comparison with other countries? What will we surprise guests with?
Without exaggeration, the youth of many countries look at Russia with hope as at the country that not only defends the basic principles of the Festival movement: peace, friendship between nations, justice, preservation of national identity, support for sovereignty, respect for international law, development of a multipolar world, memory and much more. All this is a sincere incentive for foreign friends to visit Russia, to see everything with their own eyes, to find new friends here and support their initiatives.
Of course, our country is famous for its hospitality and its rich culture. At the Festival all conditions are created to demonstrate this. The Russian delegation is the face of our country, great efforts have been made to make it consist of the brightest and most worthy representatives of the national youth from all regions of the country, from every institution of higher education, from the majority of youth associations. Together we should show not only the high potential of our youth, but also traditional Russian hospitality. I am confident that we will be able to win the hearts of foreign guests and to make them fall in love with Russia!

— The Council of vice-rectors on educational work of the Russian universities is a member of the National Preparatory Committee. What role did it play in the preparation of the Festival?

Students are the most progressive part of the youth. The scale of values that is formed among young people largely depends on the content and quality of educational work in universities. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to all experts on youth policy for their difficult but very necessary work. The Council of vice-rectors is an authoritative organization that coordinates the activities of the «sectoral» vice-rectors throughout the country and, undoubtedly, played an important role in the activities of the National Preparatory Committee. This is the dissemination of information about the Festival, especially at the initial stages of preparation, attracting students’ attention to the possibility of participating in the Festival and in the work of the regional preparatory committees. Many universities hosted thematic events related to the history of the Festival movement and the upcoming event, Festival exhibitions were opened, meetings with interesting people were held and many other things.

— What parting words would like to give to the participants?

The festival is a historic event that opens potentially new horizons for each participant both in terms of increasing their own competencies and personal participation in the international youth movement. Each of the Festivals that took place in our country, to a certain extent, influenced the fate of the participants. Someone has found new friends, someone has met his love, someone has expanded professional contacts. I sincerely believe that the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students will not be an exception and will play an important role in the lives of participants and will remain in their hearts as the brightest event. From the bottom of my heart I would like to wish them success in the work at the Festival and after it, to carry proudly and responsibly the banner of the Russian delegation participant, adequately present yourself, your university, your region, our country! And, of course, the main value of the Festival is the possibility of human communication with their peers from around the world. I wish each participant to find new friends for life from different parts of our vast planet!