VIENNA, March 11 Hungary is ready to resume cultural contacts with Russian institutions, Slovakia is also ready to start a dialogue, said the special representative of the president Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy.
“Today, if we talk about European countries, a lot depends on the political position of the country’s leadership. In this sense, my recent trip to Hungary, where I met with representatives of various ministries and various cultural institutions, showed that Hungary is ready to resume cultural contacts — with Russian institutions , that is, not with private representatives of Russian culture, but with institutions,” the special representative told reporters at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Vienna, where on Monday he met with compatriots representing various cultural and educational organizations in Austria.
According to him, the same situation is observed with Serbia. “It is developing quite actively, and in this sense, the representation of Russian culture in Serbia, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina — I mean the Republika Srpska — is quite broad,” the special representative specified. He also noted that this year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Forum of Slavic Cultures. “This forum was created at one time by decision of the leadership of Slovenia and Russia. And we will celebrate it in Serbia — on the platform that is most acceptable for all participating countries,” he clarified.
In addition, according to the presidential representative, Slovakia is also ready to resume cultural dialogue. “As you know, the Minister of Culture of Slovakia, after he headed the ministry, lifted the ban on communication with Russian institutions in the field of culture… it seems to me that the Slovak authorities are ready to start a dialogue on how cultural cooperation can be resumed, if not at the state level, then at least at the level of cultural institutions… this was interrupted, and today we do not have relations at the level of cultural institutions with other European countries,” added Shvydkoy.
At the same time, the special representative noted that the Austrian authorities were recently preliminary ready to make contact with Russia in the field of cultural relations, but at the last moment they refused. “If you visit the program of the Vienna Opera, you can make sure that Russian culture has not been canceled at the Vienna Opera; both Russian soloists and simply performers participate there. In addition, Russian performers participate in concert programs, including the Salzburg Festival , and in other musical projects. But at the institutional level, and especially at the government level, there are no contacts,” he emphasized. According to him, quite recently there were some “passes” at the level of the Austrian authorities, but at the last moment each meeting was canceled.
“Now there were some preliminary, very preliminary agreements on a meeting with colleagues representing the power structures of Austria, but, unfortunately, at the last moment everyone refused. I believe that this is an extremely short-sighted position. Because the role of Russia in the history of Austria… in the development of cultural and educational ties with Austria is great, and we still need to think about the future, and not just live in the present, no matter how difficult it may be,” Shvydkoy noted.
According to him, in this regard, the meeting on Monday at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Vienna with representatives of Russian compatriots, as well as with representatives of cultural and educational organizations that continue to maintain the presence of the Russian language, Russian culture and science in Austria, was important.