Eric Hoesli: The Valdai forum is unique and offers the opportunity of learning different opinions about contemporary Russia

RIA Novosti interview with Eric Hoesli, writer, journalist and Editorial Director of Edipresse, Switzerland.

RIA Novosti interview with Eric Hoesli, writer, journalist and Editorial Director of Edipresse, Switzerland


RIA Novosti: This meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club is devoted to Russia’s relationship with the West. What do you think of the current political situation, which will determine this relationship in the near future?

Eric Hoesli: A very interesting situation has taken shape this year. The new U.S. Administration intends to give up the unilateral approach to foreign relations, while the Russian President has announced that he is dedicated to reforms intended to change Russia’s place in the world—for instance, in the context of a new architecture for European security.

There are also questions raised by today’s political issues—in particular, discussions on conventional arms, on whether a new Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe is needed and, if so, what it should be like, and on limiting of nuclear arsenals. There are also other essential matters on which the United States, Europe, and Russia should reach new agreements.

To speak more broadly, this includes the issue of NATO’s role, an issue that is becoming ever more persistent. By this I mean that NATO intends to become a Western force active worldwide—in particular, in Afghanistan. Russia will not put up with this new role of NATO, an organization into which it has not integrated to any extent. The situation raises questions for NATO partners in the Americas and Europe.

There are also issues that have been deadlocked for a long time because of the Bush administration’s ideology, and that are being reexamined now. As I see it, now is the time to find a new definition for the Western trio of the United States, Europe and Russia, three distinct manifestations of the West. The present relationship between these three points of the triangle is very interesting.

RIA Novosti: Club members will travel to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) this year. What does the West know about the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and what do you expect to see and hear there?

Eric Hoesli: If we are talking about what the West knows about Yakutia, the answer is very simple: they know there are diamonds there. Apart from this, the development of all of Siberia is of great interest, I think. This concerns not only natural resources. I think climate change, carbon dioxide emissions, and other environmental problems are of great importance. These are global problems that are affecting Siberia. I wonder what local leaders think of them. There are other issues that interest me in Yakutia. They are related to the development of Siberia—for instance, the river infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route. The Lena River, which links Yakutsk with all of Russia, is navigable only for a few months of the year. The Northern Sea Route might now be restored due to ice melting, and the possibilities of this are being discussed widely. It would be interesting to hear local opinions on the problem. Questions raised back in the 1930s have now become relevant again because of global warming. In short, Yakutia exemplifies the situation in entire Siberia, and this has an impact on our future.

RIA Novosti: What do you expect from meetings with the Russian President and Prime Minister? What questions would you ask them as part of the “Russia and the West” discussion or on a different topic?

Eric Hoesli: Several issues are of special interest to me apart from those we just mentioned. The first is the discussion on the Caucasian region, which began last year. It has become apparent that the Kremlin’s policy on the North Caucasus, which consists, in particular,  of limiting civil society and dismissing leaders who do not put up with the blind application of force, has been unsuccessful. On the contrary, a wave of violence is rising in the North Caucasus again. The situation is alarming. I would like to hear what the President and the Prime Minister now have to say on the issue as a continuation of last year’s discussions. Attitudes towards history—in particular, opinions of Stalinism—are also of vital importance, to my mind, because they remain relevant in Russia’s relations with the West. I see this as one of the central aspects of the Western perception of Russia. The matter is especially relevant in countries that border Russia. I get the impression that some people in the present-day Russian leadership have finally decided to accept Russian history as it is, and not play politics with the West on the issue. They regard such play as humiliating and, what is even worse, on unequal terms. “We accept everything and do no criticize anything,” is their position, which takes the West aback. Western people regard Stalin as a tyrant on par with Hitler. It would be interesting to know what the President or the Prime Minister or, better still, both of them, have to say on it all.

RIA Novosti: What does the Valdai Discussion Club mean to you? What is its mission? Does it leave any room for improvement?

Eric Hoesli: The club is a place like no other. It provides a unique opportunity for direct communication with Russian leaders, and allows students of Russia to get together. These people meet year after year, so their discussions acquire permanence. The high quality of these discussions is guaranteed. Also, the club provides regular meetings with top national leaders. This is a rare privilege. The Valdai forum is unique. I am not sure any other country has anything like it.

RIA Novosti: Would you like the club to provide  more meetings with the opposition as well?

Eric Hoesli:  Really, when the club offers the opportunity of learning different opinions about contemporary Russia, this opportunity enriches analysis and makes it comprehensive, as well as enhances trust in the club. Previous meetings gave us the chance to meet with the leaders of different opposition movements, including the Communists and the Liberals. That chance was the club’s trump card. Still, we should not have such meetings at the expense of even more important ones, by which I mean meetings with national leaders, both secular and religious. In particular, club members’ meeting with Patriarch Cyril this year. Such meetings are the most significant of all, because destiny of the country depends on these people. Meetings with them are precious. However, openness to criticism of present-day Russia is another strength of the Valdai Club, as previous years have proved.


Interview by Alexandra Kamenskaya