|
These bulletins reflect the latest developments at the EBRD Annual Meeting.
17 May 2008 - Book of essays on life in transition launched
16 May 2008 - EBRD President says stronger Ukraine will forge new relationship with EU
Book of essays on life in transition launched
“Usually writers don’t trust banks and banks don’t trust writers,” according to novelist Andrei Kurkov. But that didn’t stop the EBRD from commissioning him to produce a book on how writers view the last 15 years of transition – nor did it prevent the author of Death and the Penguin from accepting the challenge.
The result is Histories of Hope in the First Person, a collection of essays by 15 writers from as many of the EBRD’s countries of operations. Launched just before the official opening of the Bank’s 2008 Annual Meeting, the book attempts to take the intellectual pulse of the region after a decade and a half of seismic change.
Three of the authors joined EBRD President Jean Lemierre in presenting the book to the Bank’s guests in Kiev: Mr Kurkov himself; Mikhal Ramach, a Serbian essayist and journalist and chief editor of the independent daily newspaper Danas; and Russian political scientist Andrei Okara.
Mr Ramach noted that Serbia had become “one of the top countries in the world for the use of sedatives. Three quarters of its students want to move abroad after graduation.” But he added that, if only out of necessity, he remained an optimist about the country’s future: “I can’t live without optimism. We can’t live in the 19th century, we must live in the 21st century.”
It is not just the EBRD’s region of operations but the entire world that faces a time of crisis, according to Mr Okara. “This is not just about global warming or water shortages, but a crisis of thought, a lack of strategic vision about mankind.” The Russian essayist predicted, however, that the “post-Soviet area” would prove fertile ground for such a vision. “This area is still in a position to surprise the world.”
“The region is in its puberty,” remarked Mr Kurkov. “That means a lot of chaotic moments, not a lot of logic, lots of machismo and muscles and not a lot of brains.
“But,” he added, “once you are educated, you will be very fast.”
By Mike McDonough, Communications Adviser
EBRD President says stronger Ukraine will forge new relationship with EU
16 May 2008 - EBRD President Jean Lemierre said on Friday that a stronger Ukraine, bolstered by further reforms, would determine its own independent future and so secure a new relationship with the European Union.
Speaking to some 400 students at Kiev's Shevchenko University ahead at the Bank's 18-19 May Annual Meeting, Mr Lemierre said Ukraine was doing exceptionally well. It had built a multiparty democracy and there was strong economic growth.
In a wide-ranging debate with the students, the President was asked specifically about what many in Ukraine perceive to be a rebuff by the West in its drive to develop closer ties, most recently at the 2-4 April NATO summit in Bucharest.
Mr Lemierre rejected the notion that Europe was ignoring Ukraine. "Europe does pay attention to and support Ukraine," he said. But this was a long process. It was important to create the relationship with Europe "step by step". In this context Ukraine had taken a very important step in its accession to the World Trade Organisation. Making a success of WTO membership would open up the country to new opportunities.
Mr Lemierre said it was crucial that Ukraine build its own way in the future and develop is own unique way of cooperating with its partners. "It is important that Ukraine becomes stronger and more competitive. Then perceptions will change," he said. It was crucial for Ukraine to focus on its reform process, he said.
Despite his praise for Ukraine's economic and political reforms, the President did warn of potential challenges. These included Ukraine's 30 per cent inflation rate which could not be allowed to continue. On the political side he said it was important to achieve agreement on key constitutional issues.
By Anthony Williams, Head of Media Relations
|
