Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Guests of the Conference,

Дорогие друзья!

 

2017 has offered us the cultural agenda rich on Russia related events in Scotland. Various creative and sport competitions for children and youth, traditional Arctic Convoys celebrations (which I am glad to say attract more and more people each year), an assortment of the Russian film-screenings, lectures, theatrical performances, operas, and it hasn’t yet finished. Some of them were brought from Russia with our support, others from start to finish were designed and implemented by the local enthusiasts. Quite a number of these events gave recollections to the Russian Revolution.

At a distance of a century the ripples of October Revolution of 1917 are still felt. Revolution is posing more than one challenge, as it truly shook the world and shaped the world we live in today. People seek to understand it. When there is a demand, there is always a variety of supply sources. For example, Waterstones put a special book stall dedicated to the theme, and I’d say these are books of different level of analysis. Actually throughout the year one could observe a full range of attempts to reflect on the subject. Some of them were engaging, the others were not, but they all highlighted one important fact i.e. that the researchers are still digging for truth. And let’s hope it would be finally established.

That is why we find it really inspiring to see that this exact month of the Russian Revolution centenary we have a 6^th Moffat Literature Conference which chose revolutionary art and literature as its theme. This is a strong platform for Russian and Scottish scholars to unite efforts in addressing the very complex matter - experiences of the extraordinary Russians living through extraordinary times. Your high level of expertise and sharp wit makes me feel relieved that this complicated, subtle and still painful topic is in hands of the caring professionals.

Our world is a very different place now than it was one hundred years ago.  There have been incredible technological and cultural changes – some of which have drawn people closer together, allowing for amazing achievements of shared knowledge and communication. So let’s use them to enhance our understanding of each other, and the world we are living in thus enabling us to make it a better place by promoting friendly ties between people.

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I appreciate very much all the hard work that our friends from Moffat Book Events and Russian Moffat Conferences – and from the Library of the Foreign Literature have done, it is so good to see many dear guests coming here from different places, bringing their knowledge and love of the Russian culture. All these wouldn’t have been possible without devotion and passion of Alan Thomson, Elizabeth Roberts and Svetlana Gorokhova. So let me take this opportunity to express our gratitude to them. We value very much your hospitality and professionalism.

 

I thank our kind hosts and wish everyone memorable and splendid time!

 

Thank you!