Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg from InterKulturForum GmbH as NGO representatives took part in the 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO,
which took place from November 7th to 22nd, 2023 at the organization's headquarters in Paris. NGOs in UNESCO are represented by the NGO-UNESCO Liason Committee.
In addition to the usual sessions on education, science and culture, this time there was a high-level dialogue Ministerial Meeting on education for peace
to discuss how to educate to bring about real and lasting peace. There also was a three hour high-level segment about (re)thinking the commons for acting together.
This segment started with an inaugural lecture by Professor Dipesh Chakrabarty , Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service
Professor of History at the University of Chicago, titeled "Many worlds, one planet" on global public goods and how they need to be rethought worldwide. The lecture was followed
by local discussions of partner universities of UNESCO. After this, a high-level session of the partners forum with Heads of State and Governments, heads of multilateral organizations,
CEOs, and civil society leaders discussed how to collaborate to address climate disruption and digital transformation. Alain Berset, Federal President of Switzerland, participated in
this meeting. From November 7 to 17 there also was a "Partnership Hub", a dedicated space hosting representatives of governments, NGOs, and other civil societies to strengthen the
connections between UNESCO and its partners as wellas between partners.
On October 24, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs reported in Basel on Switzerland's activities in the UN Security Council.The main lecture was given by Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl,
Head of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in New York. She reported on the experiences since Switzerland joined the UN Security Council, the goals and priorities of the Swiss mission
as well as possible goals in the coming months, such as strengthening the connection between the two UN capitals, New York and Geneva.
The event in Basel was hosted by the Swiss Peace Foundation (Swisspeace). Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg were invited to the event as members of the IKF and
the Swiss-UN Society (GSUN).
On October 7, the Committee on Non-Governmental Partners of the Executive Board of UNESCO met in its Paris Headquarter.
In this meeting the Committee decided various issues under item 33 of the Agenda of the Executive Board entitled “Relations with non-governmental partners”, which are
all extensively referred to in documents 215 EX/33 and 215 EX/33.INF available online. Items discussed were statutory questions concerning admissions and renewals of relations
with NGOs and foundations, which will be examined by the Committee, as well as initiatives and measures taken to foster the engagement of the network of NGO partners.
Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg participated as NGO-observers in this meeting. But of course we also looked at the culture presented in the UNESCO Headquarter.
On June 18, the Swiss Society for Foreign Policy (SGA-ASPE) and the
Swiss-UNO Society (GSUN) in the "Progr" in Bern on Foreign Policy Day. The event was opened by Christa
Markwalder - National Councilor and former President of the SGA-ASPE, and Ulrich Lehner - former Ambassador and President of the GSUN. During the event, Christa
Markwalder officially handed over the presidency of the SGA-ASPE to her successor, Roland Fischer. Then there was a discussion on the goals and expectations for
Switzerland in the UN Security Council. Switzerland was elected to the UN Security Council for 2 years by the UN General Assembly on June 9th. The Swiss Federal Council
recently proposed 4 priority areas for Switzerland in the UN Security Council: peacebuilding, protecting the civilian population in conflicts, climate security
and increasing the efficiency of the Security Council. Participants in the discussion were Flavio Milan - deputy head of the UNO department in the EDA/DFAE,
Roland Fischer - President of the SGA-ASPE and National Councilor, Angela Müller (GSUN), and Fabien Merz (CSS/ETHZ). The discussion was moderated by Markus Heiniger
(SGA-ASPE). Then there was a presentation by Pascale Baeriswyl - Ambassador and representative of Switzerland to the UN, with a discussion moderated by Christa
Markwalder and Ulrich Lehner. Another topic was the situation in Switzerland with regard to achieving the goals of the UN Agenda 2030.
During the discussion about the turning point in Europe, National Councilor Eric Nussbaumer, former National Councilor Regula Rytz, and Patrick Dümmler
(Avenir Suisse), moderated by Markus Mugglin (SGA-ASPE), discussed Switzerland's security under peace, climate - and European policy aspects. The problems of
Switzerland regarding accession to the EU were discussed. Little chance of joining in the near future was seen. However, the suggestion from the audience to join
NATO instead was seen as even more unrealistic. After this discussion, the participants divided into 4 groups to discuss the following 4 topics:
a) Health and Safety, b) Civil Society Involvement, c) Women and Peace, d) Environment, Climate, and Safety. Dr Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg from IKF took part in
the topic "Women and Peace" and Dr. Rolf Clauberg took an active part in the topic "Environment, climate and safety".
On April 25, 2022, the annual General Assembly of the Swiss-UNO Society took place in Bern. The aim of the society is to promote the relationship between
Switzerland and the UN by on the one hand bringing the United Nations, its values and functioning closer to the Swiss population and on the other
hand, by stimulating the debate about the role of Switzerland in the UN as well as the international Geneva.
Ulrich Lehner, before becoming president of the GSUN, worked as an ambassador for Switzerland at the OECD in France, and before that headed the political
department III (UN and other international organizations) in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) .
Honorary President of the GSUN is retired Federal Councilor Joseph Deiss
The main money providers of the organization are the EDA and the Foundation Pour Geneneve (FPG)
The annual report was approved in the General Assembly, the board members confirmed, two new board members elected, and the planned activities for
the coming financial year discussed.
Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg are both members of the GSUN and plan to contribute to cultural projects as part of Interkulturforum GmbH.
Interkulturforum is one of the current Network members of the GSUN .
From April 9th to May 8th, 2022, the Kunstverein Frauenfeld offers an exhibition of the works of the Mongolian artists Baatarzorig Batjargal and
Nomin Bold every Saturday and Sunday in cooperation with the writer Anita Fahrni-Minear. Baatarzorig Batjargal was born in Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia in
1983 and, like his wife Nomin Bold (born 1982), studied art at the University of Art and Culture there. In his work, Baatarzorig Batjargal focuses
on the preservation or loss of Mongolia's cultural heritage during various historical upheavals. He paints very detailed paintings with Tibetan and
Chinese elements in the style of the Mongolian Zurag tradition. Nomin Bold also uses traditional Mongolian and Buddhist elements in her works to
depict current issues.
Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Claberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg from IKF attended the opening of the exhibition and the vernissage on April 9th at the
invitation of Mrs. Anita Fahrni-Minear. The opening speech was given by His Excellency the Mongolian Ambassador to Switzerland Mr. Lundreg Purevsuren.
The former ambassador of Switzerland in China and Mongolia, Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel, also attended the opening of the exhibition.
The social aspects of the EU and in particular the question of wage protection for employees from countries with a lower standard of living were reasons why the Swiss Socialist Party in particular was critical of expanding bilateral talks with the EU towards a framework agreement. As recently as 2016, the SP saw the EU as being shaped by a neoliberal, undemocratic spirit and lacking in solidarity. On April 8, EU Commissioner Dr. Nicolas Schmit tried to explain the current social system in the EU in a lecture. Afterwards there was a discussion between the EU Commissioner, the director of economiesuisse Monika Rühl, and the SP national councilor Eric Nussbaumer about the social policy of the EU and bilateral relations with Switzerland. The EU Commissioner pointed out that there is now a better social protection in the EU and that the principle of "equal pay for the same work in the same place" is now anchored. But he also said that the benefits of the single market cannot come for free and that without a systematic solution, the bilateral agreements would continue to erode.
On April 6th, the Swiss Society for Foreign Policy (SGA-ASPE) hosted an event in Bern on the topic "War is raging in Europe - what can be done?".
The event started with a lecture by Ambassador Dr. Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Center for Security Policy and former Secretary General of
the OSCE. The ambassador then answered questions from the audience.
Ambassador Greminger expects a new cold war. The channels of communication between Russia and the West have largely broken off. He assumes that the
sanctions imposed by the West would hit Russia hard, but that it will take a long time for the effects to become apparent. He does not see the calls for
further sanctions as realistic, since sanctions in the energy sector in particular would seriously damage the West itself.
He also advocates a return to security policy discussions with Russia after the end of the current war and sees the OSCE in particular as a suitable instrument.
From December 1st to 4th, 2021, the Conference of City Museums (CAMOC) of the International Commission of Museums (ICOM) took place in Barcelona. The host was the Historical Museum of the City of Barcelona. The theme of the conference was the role of city museums with their specific tasks. The museum itself is spread over several locations within Barcelona with the main conference venue in a historic building close to the Barcelona Cathedral. There are also many buildings by architect Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona, including Park Güell, where Gaudi lived for years. His most famous building is the Sagrada Familia. The list of museums in Barcelona is very large and includes the Foundatio Joan Miro and the Picasso Museum. Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg attended the conference.
On November 24th, the conference Alienation or Cooperation? Expectations of the German-Russian Dialogue
took place in the Russian House in Berlin.
The forum was organized by the German-Russian Forum with the support of the Russian House in Berlin. There were more than a hundred participants, including the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Germany Sergei Netschajew, and Dr. Antje Vollmer, former Bundestag Vice-President. The conference took place shortly after the
announcement of the composition of the new German Federal Government. The topic of the first panel discussion was therefore "After the elections: What is changing in foreign policy
and in the citizens' dialogue?". The third panel discussion dealt with "German-Russian relations as reflected in the European pandemic and conflict management".
Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Prof. Dr. Rolf Clauberg from InterKulturForum took part in the second of three panel discussions - topic: "Social understanding - a boost
for the political relaxation process?". Rolf Clauberg emphasized the problem that both sides do not understand the other and that many people only read what agrees with their
existing opinion and usually only talk to people who share their opinion. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg emphasized "We have to reach out to dialogue! We need travel, we need contacts,
we need exchange!"
Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Prof. Dr. Rolf Clauberg from InterKulturForum GmbH took part in the 41st General Conference of UNESCO, which took place from November 9th to 24th, 2021 at the organization's headquarters in Paris. Participation took place as representatives of the "Russian Peace Foundation", which, as an international organization, is one of the official partners of the UN and UNESCO. In addition to the usual sessions on education, science and culture, this time the 75th birthday of UNESCO was celebrated and the "UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences" was awarded. The UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize was awarded to Professor Yuri Oganessian, Scientific Director of the Flerov Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and Professor Vincenzo Balzani (retired) from the University of Bologna, Italy. Professor Oganessian received the award for his groundbreaking work in the discovery of what are currently the heaviest elements in the periodic table and for his advancement of basic research on a global scale. Professor (emeritus) Balzani received the award for the lasting influence of his outstanding scientific achievements in basic chemical science and his career-long commitment to promoting international cooperation, scientific education, and sustainable development.
The company "Intercultural Forum" presently implements the humanitarian project Culture Academy, which is a cultural platform for events dedicated to the World Cultural Heritage. This year, the company took part in the initiative of the Russian Peace Foundation to include a painting by artist Maria Sharapova (pseudonym MAKÉ) into the UNESCO Permanent Art Gallery at the Organization's headquarters in Paris. Maria Sharapova, a Russian artist who worked in the avant-garde style of neo-expressionism, died in the United States at the age of 33 almost at an easel. Her work represents the legacy of Russian emigrant artists who have received recognition abroad - Vasily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Marina Verevkina, Alexey Yavlinsky, Natalia Goncharova, etc. Currently, two art exhibitions are being prepared in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, in the preparation of which InterKulturforum is taking part. Below we just show three of MAKÉ's paintings.
Company «InterKulturForum» organized, together with the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN-University), the First Swiss-Russian academic colloquium on the topic: "The coronavirus pandemic: in the economy, society and international relations", which took place online on November 30 and December 1, 2020 at the ZOOM platform. Conference language was English. During the colloquium, a free and independent discussion took place on the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in different countries of the world, on its negative impact on the global economy, the development of small and medium-sized businesses, the travel industry and the hotel business. Representatives of leading Swiss, Liechtenstein, and Russian universities, scientific centers, associations, as well as cultures and business structures presented their reports. The conclusion made by the participants of the colloquium was that humanity has entered a new stage in the global transformation of the world and the transition to a new digital space.
On 12 December 2019, a festive concert was held as part of the humanitarian project in the area of public diplomacy "Dialogues on a Culture of Peace", as part of the International Decade for the Approaching Cultures of UNESCO. The event was sponsored by the official partner of the organization, the Russian Peace Foundation , and with the participation of the International Ballet Competition Federation and the company "InterKulturForum GmbH". The author and head of the project is Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg. The event took place in the Permanent Mission of Russia to UNESCO as a musical evening. Russian Permanent Representative to UNESCO Alexander Kusnezov made a welcoming speech to the guests of the event - representatives of the UNESCO Secretariat, Ambassadors and diplomats of the permanent missions to UNESCO, as well as compatriots. The concert was performed by young Russian musicians, winners of international competitions and festivals - Diana Pasko (violin), Elena Tarasova (piano) and Dmitry Silvian (cello). The artists performed works by Russian and foreign composers - P. Tchaikovsky, I. Strawinsky, S. Rachmaninov, N.Rimsky-Korsakov, J. S. Bach, J. Massenet and others.
On 25 November 2019, the Liechtenstein National Museum (Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein) organized a cultural event dedicated
to the 300th anniversary of the Principality as part of the project Diplomacy and Culture. It was attended by political and public figures
as well as prominent figures from science and culture and representatives of the diplomatic corps from different countries.
The event was opened by the director of the National Museum Liechtenstein, Rainer Volkommer, and the ambassador of the Russian Federation
in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Sergey Garmonin. The event was held with the support of the Russian Embassy in Switzerland, the Russian
Peace Fund and the participation of the Swiss company InterKulturForum GmbH.
The concert was attended by UNESCO Peace Artist, pianist Sergey Markarov and pianist Sofia Laine. The event was moderated by historian and
diplomat Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg (representative of the Russian Peace Fund in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein).
For the anniversary, the Russian side presented the National Museum of Liechtenstein with the image "Festive lights of St. Petersburg" by
the artist Mikhail Shichanov-Kublitsky, that the Russian ambassador in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Sergey Garmonin, handed over.
On November 24, 2019, a festive event on "Dialogues on a Culture of Peace" took place in the Swiss city of Bad Ragaz, marking the 150th anniversary
of the founding of the legendary spa complex "Grand Resort Bad Ragaz" and its architect Bernhard Simon. He visited the Imperial Academy of Arts in
St. Petersburg and built a series of famous houses for the Russian aristocracy in the city on the River Neva. In memory of his activities in St. Petersburg,
he included three Russian-style houses in the plan of the resort complex - Villa Gagarin, Villa Hermitage and Villa Solitude. Members of the royal Family
of the Romanov dynasty were here repeatedly, especially Elena Pavlovna Romanova, the sister-in-law of Emperor Nicholas I, who called Bernhard Simon
"a little Napoleon among the architects".
With this event, the company "InterKulturForum GmbH" launched the project "Diplomacy and Culture" - a public culture and discussion platform whose aim is
to develop innovative forms in the international cultural dialogue of cooperation.
The music event was attended by pianist and UNESCO peace artist Sergey Markarov and pianist Sofia Laine. The event was moderated by historian and diplomat
Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg (representative of the Russian Peace Fund in Switzerland and Liechtenstein).
The event included talks between representatives of Russian culture and art abroad, especially about Sergei Rachmaninoff and Igor Strawinsky, who lived and
worked in Switzerland. As a gift for the anniversary, the Russian Peace Foundation donated to the hotel the image "Festive lights of St. Petersburg" by the
artist Mikhail Shikhanov-Kublitsky (member of the Union of Artists of Russia, involved in the painting of Orthodox churches in Russia and Serbia). The event
was supported by the Embassy of Russia in Switzerland, the Russian Peace Fund (member of the UNESCO ECOSOC) and the international organization UNESCO.
Representatives of the company InterKulturForum GmbH participated in the 40th General Conference of UNESCO, which took place from 12 to 27 November 2019 at the headquarters of the organization. They participated in various meetings on science, culture and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Rolf Clauberg participated in the events with journalist access. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg participated as an NGO representative of the Russian Peace Foundation part. It was a unique experience of multilateral public diplomacy.
IKF participated in various meetings and events of the VIII. St. Petersburg Cultural Forum this year. The Forum's activities included cultural as well as business aspects, ranging from a lecture by the Russian Minister of Culture, discussions on financing start-up companies to a choral concert in the Isaac Cathedral.
On June 3, 2019, as the beginning of longer-lasting ceremonies in Zerbst an event took place in the home-castle of Princess Sophie Auguste Friederike
of Anhalt-Zerbst, the later Russian Empress Catherine II (called the Great) on the occasion of the Empress's 290th anniversary. The event started with a seminar
about the historical and diplomatic relations between Russia and Germany and finished with a classical concert of young Russian artists. InterKulturForum GmbH
was one of the organizers of the event and Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg of IKF the project leader and moderator of the seminar. Presentations in the
seminar were given by the former Russian Ambassador to Germany, Vladimir Grinin, the former Russian Ambassador Vladimir Polenov, Dr. Rolf Clauberg of IKF,
Eduard Prince of Anhalt, and Vladimir Teslenko, the founder of the museum "Katharina die Grosse" in Zerbst.
The concert was funded by the Russian Open Sea Foundation, which was represented by Mrs Elena Havandeeva. The artists were tenor Alexander Fedorov and the pianist
Ksenia Fedoruk.
On June 5, 2019, another meeting took place in Berlin with Mr. Martin Hoffmann, the Executive Board Member of the German-Russian Forum e.V. and Mrs. Elena von
Fumetti from the program area Culture of the Forum. The topic was the future cooperation with the German-Russian Forum.
On April 19, in Yekaterinburg, a meeting of 9 ambassadors, 2 deputy foreign ministers, and 4 other diplomatic representatives was hold on the subject of "Public
Diplomacy as a form of trust-building dialogue in the global economy". An important point of discussion was the role of the youth for
the development of future economic relations. Participants in the meeting were from Senegal, Nicaragua, Gabon, Cameroon, Panama,
Benin, Sierre Leone, Bolivia, Laos, Ivory Coast, Vietnam, Republic of South Africa, Equador, and Russia.
Dr. Rolf Clauberg and Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg from IKF also participated.
On December 19, 2018, Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg from InterKulturForum GmbH together with Mr. Alexander Avramenko, deputy director of the Russian House for Science and Culture in Berlin, visited Zerbst / Anhalt, the hometown of the Princess Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst. This princess is better known today as Empress Catherine II (also called the Great) of Russia, born 1729. The purpose of our visit to Zerbst was to discuss the preparation of Catherine the Great's 290th birthday celebrations, which will begin in Zerbst at the beginning of June. As a contribution to this, we are planning a seminar with lectures and discussions on the shared cultural and historical heritage of Germany and Russia by the German princesses, who became Russian Empresses. For this purpose, there were visits to see the local conditions and discussions with the mayor of Zerbst - Mr Andreas Dittmann, Mrs. Antje Rohm, head of the mayors office and responsible for press contacts, culture and tourism, as well as the director of the museum "Catherine the Great" in Zerbst - Mr. Wladimir Teslenko.
On December 6, 2018, in the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Bratislava, an event of the "International Diplomatic Forum" on "The role of public diplomacy in the discourse of modern international relations" took place. The event was organized with the support of the Russian Embassy in Slovakia and the International Public Foundation "Russian Peace Foundation". The Expert Group of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs consisted of: Vice-Rector for Research Prof. Dr. Oleg Ivanov, Director of the Center for Public Diplomacy, Dialogue of World Cultures and Religions - Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg (Project Leader), and Associate Research Fellow, Visiting Professor Dr. Rolf Clauberg (Switzerland). The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, non-governmental organizations and foundations. The lively discussion treated issues of relations between Russia, the EU and the US, international security issues and "lessons from the past" in the context of the 20th century world wars. The Slovak side suggested a number of topical issues for the next meeting in Bratislava in 2019.
On November 6 there was an event of the "Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik(SGA-ASPE)" (Swiss Assoziation on Foreign Policy)
"Brexit - ordered or chaotic" in the University of Zurich. The event was organized together with the Institute of Europe of the University.
The event started with presentations by
Jonathan Djanogly - Tory Member of UK Parliament,
Haig Simonian - journalist and author,
Gerald Hosp - NZZ editor and author,
Christa Markwalder - CH-National Counsilor and president SGA-ASPE. The event concluded with a panel discussion of the speakers
moderated by Markus Mugglin (SGA-ASPE). The speakers reported about the present status of the negotiations with the European Union
and their expectations about the final outcome. The bad information of the british electorate about the consequences of an exit from
the European Union was criticized, but Jonathan Djanogly said that he expects the same outcome if there would be a new referendum now.
Dr. Rolf Clauberg, member of SGA-ASPE, attended the event accompanied by his wife Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg.
From October 23 to 25, the Russian-German Cultural and Business Forum took place at the Expo Center in Novosibirsk, Russia.
Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg was invited to the panel discussion on Public Diplomacy, where she reported on the development
of her humanitarian project "International Diplomatic Forum".
Dr. Rolf Clauberg was invited to the general panel discussion, together with Eduard Prinz von Anhalt, a relative of the Russian Empress
Catherine the Great, and Vladimir Teslenko, the founder of the museum "Zarin Katherina die Grosse" in Anhalt-Zerbst. Catherine the Great
was born as Princess Sophie Auguste Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst. Dr. Rolf Clauberg participated both as president of InterKulturForum GmbH
and as Visiting Professor of the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow. The panel discussed economic, cultural and scientific relations
between Russia and Germany as well as the possibilities of improving these relations. Reports about the forum in German appeared e.g. in the
Organization of the Germans of Russia in Novosibirsk. Reports about the general panel discussion in Russian at
the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow
and the Russian magazine Российская Газета.
On September 10, 2018, Yves Rossier, the Swiss ambassador to Russia, gave a reception with the presentation of a series of books on
Frédéric-César de la Harpe, the Swiss teacher of the Russian Emperor Alexander I.
Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg were invited to this event.
As part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the great Russian writer, publicist and playwright Ivan Turgenev, the Diplomatic
Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held "Turgenev Events" in the German city of Baden-Baden and the Swiss city of
Zurich from 10 to 13 July 2018. The main theme was - «Russia and Europe in the work of Ivan Turgenev». Turgenev (born November 9,
1818 at Orjol / Russia, died on September 18, 1883 in Bougival near Paris) lived from 1863 to 1870 in Baden-Baden and is considered
one of the most influential writers of Russian realism. He is not only seen as a Russian but also as a European writer. He also
participated in the First International Congress of Writers in Paris in 1878 (Congrès littéraire international de Paris 1878) and
was friends with many European writers, including Gustave Flaubert, Émile Zola, Victor Hugo, Guy de Maupassant, Alphonse Daudet,
Prosper Mérimée , Paul Heise and Theodor Storm. The collection of his stories had an even greater influence on the development of
literature than his novels.
The events included a "Literary Salon" with lectures in the fireplace room of the Hotel Atlantic in Baden-Baden, a handover of books
from or about Turgenev within the city-library of Baden-Baden, and another event with lectures at the Hotel St. Gotthard in Zurich.
Both at the Hotel Atlantic in Baden-Baden as well as in the hotel St. Gotthard in Zurich, the movie "The Noble Nest" after the novel
by Turgenev was shown to the participants (russian with german subtitles).
The events were financially supported by the Honorary Consulate of Russia in Lausanne, the Russian Federal Agency Rossotrudnichestvo,
the Foundation Russian World and the International Public Fund "Russian Peace Fund".
InterKulturForum GmbH has within the scope of its goal to promote international cultural exchange, organizationally and logistically supported these events and related preparations.
On June 15, the "Swiss Society for Foreign Policy SGA-ASPE" celebrated its 50th anniversary. The festive event took place in the town hall of Bern. Dr. Gret Haller, the president of SGA-ASPE, opened the event. After this there followed a greeting speech by Christoph Neuhaus, President of the Canton of Bern, a film about 50 years of SGA-ASPE, a speech by Dr. Heinz Fischer, the former Federal President of the Republic of Austria, a message of welcome from Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Other speeches were given by Michael Matthiessen, the Ambassador of the European Union and Dr. Martin Meyer, President of the Swiss Institute for Foreign Studies. Finally, there was the handover of the presidency of Dr. Gret Haller to National Councilor Christa Markwalder. Previously, on the same day during the General Assembly of the SGA-ASPE, Christa Markwalder had been elected as the new president of SGA-ASPE. As a member of the SGA-ASPE, Dr. Rolf Clauberg participated both in the General Assembly and in the following ceremony. He was accompanied by his wife Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg.
For June 14, 2018, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation his Excellency Sergei Garminin and his wife Elena Garmonina had invited to a reception at the Bellevue Palace Hotel in Bern. Purpose was the celebration of the Russian National Holiday from June 12 and the opening game of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Present were members of the Diplomatic Corps and other invited guests.
On June 12 2018 the German "Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik" (Foreign Affairs Assoziation) celebrated her 70-year anniversity under
the patronage of the Bavarian Prime Minister. The ceremony took place in the large auditorium of the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU)
in Munich.
Dr. Horst Mahr, since many years the chairman of the assoziation, opened the event. Afterwards there were speeches by
Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Martin Wirsing, Vicepresident of the LMU,
Georg Eisenreich, MdL and Bavarian Minister of State for Digital, Media, and Europe,
as well as by Niels Annen, MdB and Minister of State at the Foreign Office.
Between the speeches played the mountain music corps of the Bundeswehr.
Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg and Dr. Rolf Clauberg had been invited to this event.
On April 27 2018 the fourth annual international conference on the transformation of international relations in the 21st century took place in the Diplomatic Academy Moscow: "Requirements and perspectives". Scientists, diplomats, and aspirants from various countries participated in this conference. Within the scope of the conferene also took place the "International Diplomatic Forum" with the topic: "The role of Public Diplomacy in the development of international dialogue in times of crisis. Questions of 'historical memory' and intercultural communication."
InterKulturForum is an official partner of the Diplomatic Academy Moscow in the organization of the humanitarian project "International Diplomatic Seminar" in the area of public diplomacy. This year the events were dedicated to the historical date of the 100 years anniversary of the Russian Revolution. At the 21st April 2017 in the Swiss National Museum in Zurich russian and swiss experts discussed current assessments of the russian revolution of 1917 by historians, political scientists, and diplomats. Presenters included Vice-rector Prof. Dr. Oleg Ivanov from the Diplomatic Academy, Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg, Prof. Dr. Boris Guseletov of the Europe-Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Anatoly Blinov representative of the foundation "Russian World", and Prof. Dr. Alexandre Lambert of the Geneva School of Diplomatics. The discussions showed a very strong interest in the topic and partly very different assessments of the revolution of 1917.
On April 27 and 28 2017 the third annual international conference on the transformation of international relations in the 21st century took place in the Diplomatic Academy Moscow: "Requirements and perspectives". This event was conducted with the support of the InterKulturForum GmbH and the foundation for public diplomacy of A. Gorchakov. Scientists, diplomats, and aspirants from various countries participated in this conference. The conference contained 4 panel discussions and 8 round table discussions. One of the round table discussions was organized together with the Youth-parliament of the Russian state duma on the topic "Public Diplomacy and international parliamentarism: crisis management". The participants discussed the current tendencies in the evolution of international relations. They considered this a very productive and interesting conference and plan to continue the dialog.
On September 25 2017 there was a conference within the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow with support from the Swiss Embassy in Moscow. The topic was the russian revolution from 1917. After the opening of the conference by Prof. Dr. Evgeny Bazhanov president of the Diplomatic Academy as well as the reading of a welcome message from the russian foreign minister Sergey Lavros, and a welcoming speech by the swiss embassador Yves Rossier, russian and swiss scientists reported and discussed their judgment of the factors leading to the revolution and the international impact of the revolution of 1917. Dr. Andreas Spillmann, the director of the Swiss National Museum provided an overview of the museum and Ms. Pascale Meyer, the curator of the museum, reported on the exhibition about the russian revolution of 1917 within the Swiss National Museum. Experts reported about their judgement of the February and the October revolution. It was observed that even after 100 years there is no unique judgement about this revolution. Contributions were from Prof. Dr. Natalia Maslakova-Clauberg the leader of the center for Public Diplomacy and World Cultures of the Diplomatic Academy, Prof. Dr. Boris Guseletov from the Europe-Institute of the Russian Scientific Academy, Anatoly Blinov representative of the Foundation Russian World, Prof. Dr. Victor Ischenko the deputy director of the Institute of General History of the Russian Scientific Academy, and Dr. Rolf Clauberg the representative of InterKulturForum GmbH.
On 1. November 2017 the Handwerk- und Gewerbeverein (HGV) (craft and trade association Thalwil hold its annual apero for local companies in the Schützenhalle in Thalwil. For the first time InterKulturForum GmbH participated in this event. After the opening of the event by Gemeindepräsident Märk Fankhauser and the president of the HGV Marc Hofstetter, there was a podiums discussion about the basics of the company landscape in Thalwil.