The 4th Russia and Iberoamerica in a
Global World: History and Modernity International Forum was held at Saint
Petersburg State University on 13 October. Over the course of three days, prominent
scientists, politicians, and journalists from Iberoamerican countries and the
Russian Federation held discussions concerning socio-political and economic
topics, Latin Americas place in the world as well as relations with Russia.
The Forum was attended by about 700 members of the expert
community from 35 countries.
Forum events included major conferences, thematic
roundtables, presentations of scientific publications, public lectures, and art
exhibitions. Members of the Forum Organizing Committee also presented awards to
the winners of the Iberoamerica Young Researchers Competition.
The distinguished speakers and moderators included:
María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Chairwoman of the 73rd Session of the UN
General Assembly (20182019); Dr. Manuel Antonio Garreton from the University
of Chile; Victor Jeifets, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Director
of the Centre for Iberoamerican Studies at Saint Petersburg State University;
Andres Serbin, Director of the Regional Coordinator of Economic and Social
Research (Argentina); Lazar Jeifets, Professor at the Department of American
Studies at Saint Petersburg State University, Doctor of History, and Chairman
of the Forum Organizing Committee; Vladimir Davydov, Doctor of Economics,
Professor, Academic Supervisor of the Institute of Latin America of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
and President of the Russian Association of Researchers of the Iberoamerican
World; Beatriz de Jesús Sánchez Muñoz, Head of the Broad Front coalition and a
former presidential candidate in Chile; Isidro Morales Moreno, Editor-in-Chief
of Latin American Policy; Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Distinguished Service Professor
Emeritus of Economics and Latin American Studies at the University of
Pittsburgh; Lyudmila Okuneva, Chair of the Department of History and Politics
of European and American Countries at Moscow State Institute of International
Relations (MGIMO); Ignacio Ramonet, Founder of the Spanish version of the
newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique en español and author of biographies on Fidel Castro
and Hugo Chavez; Dr. Ricardo Ffrench-Davis, Professor at the University of
Chile and a specialist on the study of economic reforms; Dr. Karina Batthyány,
Head of the Latin American Council for Social Sciences; Daniela Kravets
Miranda, UN Special Rapporteur and former fellow at the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights; Dr. Manuel Alcantara Saez, Professor at the University of
Salamanca, and many others.
«The RussianIberoamerican Forum has turned into the
most representative platform in Russia and Eastern Europe, bringing together participants
from 35 countries ranging from America and Europe to Africa and Asia. The
events not only brought together Russian and foreign experts, but also served
as a model for cooperation and collaboration among leading international
associations in this field the Latin American Studies Association (LASA), the
European Council for Social Research on Latin America (CEISAL), and the Latin
American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO). Its not only important that
issues concerning Russian-Latin American relations are being discussed, but
also that there are debates about the prospects for the economic and political
development of Latin America, and leading scientists from a number of countries
are already accustomed to doing this in St. Petersburg», said Victor Jeifets,
Director of the Centre for Iberoamerican Studies at Saint Petersburg State
University and Chairman of the Forums Programme Committee.
«The Forum is devoted to Russian-Latin American
cooperation and is a promising platform for building relationships in the era
of a multipolar world. Our foreign colleagues have shown great interest in the
event and a readiness to discuss new areas of focus in the development of Latin
America in the context of globalization. The number of participants presenting
at the Forum has been increasing each year. The event is held at a high level
and attracts numerous scientists and politicians», Roscongress Foundation CEO
and Chairman of the Board Alexander Stuglev said.
Sergey Brilyov, President of the Bering-Bellingshausen
Institute for the Americas and an expert at the Roscongress Foundation, said:
«The Forum is a first-class, global-scale platform that has become prestigious
for anyone who studies Latin America to attend».
The Forum participants discussed issues of an
economic, political, historical, social, and cultural nature. They also touched
upon foreign policy issues and addressed problems related to education in Latin
America.