U.S. ambassador: We need stronger Moscow-Washington ties

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft opening the conference.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft opening the conference.

Ruslan Shamukov
Pskov became the first city in Russia to host the Fort Ross Dialogue conference, named after a Russian fortress in California. The event was only previously hosted in America.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft opening the conference. / Ruslan ShamukovU.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft opening the conference. / Ruslan Shamukov

The resolution of global issues requires strengthening of mutual understanding between Moscow and Washington. This was stated by U.S. Ambassador John Tefft at the Fort Ross Dialogue forum organized by Rossiyskaya Gazeta at the end of May 2017.

According to the ambassador, “with the global economy developing at unprecedented rates and stakes to resolve global problems higher than ever, such cooperation and understanding acquire special significance. Overall, I would describe Russia-U.S. relations as an almost constant balancing act between cooperation and rivalry.”

Tefft added that during difficult times cultural links help maintain relations, referring to the Fort Ross Dialogue forum as an example.

The event was originally established to support the Russian fortress Fort Ross, which was founded in 1812 by a Russian-American company based on the Pacific coast of California, 80 km from San Francisco. The fort currently holds the status of a historical park. The forum was established in 2012, in honor of the fort’s 200th anniversary, on the initiative of U.S. company Chevron and two Russian companies: The world’s biggest oil pipeline operator Transneft and shipping giant Sovcomflot.

Previously the conference was only organized in America, with the latest held in the fall of 2016 at Stanford University in California. In 2017, the Fort Ross Dialogue was for the first time held in Russia, in the towns Pskov and Izborsk near the country’s western border. “Our cooperation with partners from the Chevron consortium has long grown beyond the boundaries of purely industrial cooperation. We successfully collaborate on a number of cultural, social, and historical projects. Fort Ross is a vivid example,” explained Transneft President Nikolai Tokarev.

Nikolai Tokarev, President of Transneft, and Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister. / Mikhail SinitsynNikolai Tokarev, President of Transneft, and Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister. / Mikhail Sinitsyn / RG

Museum cooperation

The forum program consisted of two panels. The first was dedicated to cooperation between museums in Russia and the U.S. The second, to important aspects of the global power industry. “Despite the political situation, nothing has changed for us in comparison with, let’s say, the situation six years ago: Those who support Fort Ross in Russia and America are incredibly loyal. Moreover, due to this trust we have the opportunity to recruit more sponsors, and such events really help,” said Sara Sweedler, chairman of the Fort Ross Conservancy. She noted that it was a pleasure to deal with Russian museum representatives and organize joint projects.

The program included a panel discussion coined “Towards each other: Russian trailblazers and American pioneers” - dedicated to the parallel nature of territory exploration in the history of Russia and America.

“U.S.-Russia relations have great prospects as they are two major countries with common borders and areas of mutual interest. These not only include combating terrorism, but also space exploration, climate change, and energy-related issues,” stated Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian president’s special envoy on international cultural cooperation. Apart from culture, he says, there are many spheres where the countries’ interests meet. “In the end, pragmatism will prevail: We are two great nations,” he added.

Welcome address by Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russian president’s special envoy on international cultural cooperation. / Mikhail SinitsynWelcome address by Mikhail Shvydkoy, Russian president’s special envoy on international cultural cooperation. / Mikhail Sinitsyn / RG

Energy discussion

Participants of the business conference segment analyzed opportunities for collaboration in the power industry segment with consideration of strained political relations and sanction regimes. Panelists included USRBC head Daniel Russel, the executive secretary of the Russian American Pacific Partnership Derek Norbergand Director of the RAS Institute for American and Canadian Studies Valery Garbuzov.

“The Russian president repeatedly emphasized that we are absolutely open to cooperation along political and all other lines, but that such cooperation should be based on principles of fairness and mutual respect of interests”, noted Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Ryabkov. He said that there were many issues on the Russia-U.S. agenda including counter-terrorism, regional conflicts, strategic stability, arms control, and the prevention of distribution of weapons of mass destruction.

The conference program also included a presentation of a joint report prepared by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) entitled “A Roadmap for U.S.-Russia Relations.” Specialists have elaborated a number of steps for their normalization and promised to provide them to Russian and U.S. delegations for preparations toward a possible meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump during the July 2017 G20 summit in Germany.

The Izborsk fortress commendably withstood the onslaught of the vast Russian-U.S. delegation.\nTransneft Media<p>The Izborsk fortress commendably withstood the onslaught of the vast Russian-U.S. delegation.</p>\n
Welcome address by Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.\nMikhail Sinitsyn <p>Welcome address by Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.</p>\n
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft is happy to see his compatriots.\nMikhail Sinitsyn<p>U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft is happy to see his compatriots.</p>\n
Sara Sweedler, chairman of the Fort Ross Conservancy.\nMikhail Sinitsyn<p>Sara Sweedler, chairman of the Fort Ross Conservancy.</p>\n
Natalia Dubrovskaya, director of the Izborsk State Museum-Reserve of History, Architecture, and Land.\nMikhail Sinitsyn<p>Natalia Dubrovskaya, director of the Izborsk State Museum-Reserve of History, Architecture, and Land.</p>\n
Session: &ldquo;Russian America and trailblazing as a resource for development of museums and museum brands.&rdquo; Moderated by Matthew Rozanski, director of the Kennan Institute. On the right: Lidia Sevastyanova, director of the Kargopol State Museum of History, Architecture, and Art.\nIgor Davydov / RG<p>Session: &ldquo;Russian America and trailblazing as a resource for development of museums and museum brands.&rdquo; Moderated by Matthew Rozanski, director of the Kennan Institute. On the right: Lidia Sevastyanova, director of the Kargopol State Museum of History, Architecture, and Art.</p>\n
Hank Birnbaum, manager of the Department of Environmental, Cultural and Educational Programs, tour guide, Fort Ross Conservancy.\nIgor Davydov / RG<p>Hank Birnbaum, manager of the Department of Environmental, Cultural and Educational Programs, tour guide, Fort Ross Conservancy.</p>\n
Derek Norberg, president of the Council for U.S.-Russia Relations, executive secretary of the Russian American Pacific Partnership, moderator of the discussion &ldquo;The energy sector as an important element of Russian and U.S. geopolicy,&rdquo; and Jeffrey Mankoff, deputy director and senior fellow with the CSIS Russia and the Eurasia Program.\nMikhail Sinitsyn / RG<p>Derek Norberg, president of the Council for U.S.-Russia Relations, executive secretary of the Russian American Pacific Partnership, moderator of the discussion &ldquo;The energy sector as an important element of Russian and U.S. geopolicy,&rdquo; and Jeffrey Mankoff, deputy director and senior fellow with the CSIS Russia and the Eurasia Program.</p>\n
Ivan Timofeev, director of programs at the Russian Internal Affairs Council, moderator of the discussion &ldquo;Russia-U.S. cooperation in energy and climate change: Interests, issues, prospects.&rdquo;\nMikhail Sinitsyn / RG<p>Ivan Timofeev, director of programs at the Russian Internal Affairs Council, moderator of the discussion &ldquo;Russia-U.S. cooperation in energy and climate change: Interests, issues, prospects.&rdquo;</p>\n
Olga Miller, director of the Renova - Fort Ross Foundation.\nIgor Davydov / RG<p>Olga Miller, director of the Renova - Fort Ross Foundation.</p>\n
Antonina Andreyeva, director of the Veliky Ustyug Museum Reserve, Paul Rodzianko, vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation, honorary chairman of the Hermitage Museum Foundation (U.S.), Lisa Mealoy, former executive director of Sutter&rsquo;s Fort State Historic Park.\nIgor Davydov / RG<p>Antonina Andreyeva, director of the Veliky Ustyug Museum Reserve, Paul Rodzianko, vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation, honorary chairman of the Hermitage Museum Foundation (U.S.), Lisa Mealoy, former executive director of Sutter&rsquo;s Fort State Historic Park.</p>\n
Gift for Fort Ross from local artist Vera Belyus.\nMikhail Sinitsyn<p>Gift for Fort Ross from local artist Vera Belyus.</p>\n
Seto Finno-Ugric people getting ready for the guests.\nRuslan Shamukov<p>Seto Finno-Ugric people getting ready for the guests.</p>\n
 
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