‘We Continue Hoping for Reasonable Changes in Russia’
On July 15th students from the HSE and the University of Lucerne met with Stefan Estermann, Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland in Russia. The meeting took place at the HSE as part of the Russian-Swiss Summer School.
Staff of the HSE Center for International Education, along with their colleagues from the Swiss university in Lucerne spent the whole academic year developing and discussing the programme of the joint Summer School. 22 students from Switzerland and 13 HSE students took part in the project. The two-week programme included lectures on various topics as well as discussions on the cultural traditions of Russia and Switzerland. In addition to that, the students worked on joint projects in mixed groups. During the first week in Moscow the students visited Russian offices of Swiss companies, participated in meetings with experts and, of course, tasted Russian culture. The second week took place in Switzerland, where the students continued their joint work and took part in meetings and discussions with leading researchers and professors from the University of Lucerne. Before leaving Switzerland, joint projects were presented and the students received certificates from completing the joint Summer School.
In his welcoming speech Stefan Estermann, Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland in Russia, delivered a brief overview of the history of the formation of Switzerland, a confederation consisting of 23 cantons with their own constitutions, parliaments and governments. Discussing the internal political climate in the country, Ambassador Estermann emphasized that the most important initiatives on the improvement of laws in Switzerland always come from below. It is the citizens of the country, not governmental bodies, who start to discuss any changes necessary for society, which certainly proves the deeply enrooted democratic basis of the state. And this is, Stefan Estermann believes, the key difference between the political cultures of Russia and Switzerland.
Responding to a question on the prospects of the two countries'cooperation, Stefan Estermann said:‘I believe in a positive and mutually profitable development of our relations. We are constantly and consistently overcoming the prejudices and stereotypes which are possible in any countries'relations, even those which are not as different as Switzerland and Russia. Unfortunately, Russia still has a very difficult situation for international business development, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which have to overcome numerous administrative and financial obstacles. Expecting such a question, I brought with me a recent Moscow Times newspaper, where an article was published about the introduction of new customs duties for the personal effects of foreign businessmen. Starting from July 1st, every foreign citizen planning to live and work in Russia for a long time and, of course, bringing with him sizeable luggage, will have to pay 4 Euros for every kilo. According to my calculations, every foreigner will have to pay a sum somewhere in the region of $30 000. What for? Just to enter the country with some of his belongings. According to my information, now there are dozens of shipments held up on the Russian border with the private belongings of foreign businessmen. And this is only one example from a long list of problems hindering the development of business relations between Russia and other countries. Nevertheless, we continue to hope for reasonable changes in Russia, which will lead to the prosperity of this country as well as of its partners'.
It is quite logical that the next question was about the business climate in Switzerland. ‘Planning business investments, one should become closely acquianted with the law, cultural traditions and customs of the country. I would not say that it is very easy to do business in Switzerland, since we have a special business culture. But if you act according to Swiss law, it is quite easy to start and do business in our country. Swiss laws are strict, clear and do not need any explanation. Unfortunately, Russian laws are not always clear, which often leads to controversial interpretations of some statutes. I would like to particularly emphasise - Ambassador Estermann added - that personal trust is highly important in Russia. In Switzerland one should at least make one successful deal for that, in Russia it's just the opposite - to make the first business transaction, one should first win your partner's trust'.
Summarizing his speech, Ambassador Estermann expressed confidence in the fact that in the development of business, political and cultural ties between Russia and Switzerland, young people from both countries will play an important role, including the participants of the Russian-Swiss summer school.
According to Alisa Melikyan, Head of the HSE Department for Academic Mobility, the key to the new Summer School is that the students of the host country become curators for the guest group:they organize excursions, talk about history, politics, economics, cultural specifics and traditions of their country. Such informal communication helps make a clear impression about the country, accompanied by the academic knowledge received from lectures and meetings with experts.
Anya Fikhs, master's student of the Business Development and Promotion programme at the University of Lucerne, believes that participation in the Summer School will help her to work on her thesis, a comparative analysis of the strategy of development and promotion of business operations in Switzerland and abroad. ‘For me lectures by leading HSE professors and the visit to the office of the Swiss company Axel Springer in Moscow were very useful - Anya said - Being in Switzerland, it is hard to get a clear impression of what problems the Russian economy is facing and how those problems influence international companies'business development in Russia. Of course, one week in Moscow is not enough to understand all the nuances, but it was important for me to hear the opinions of businessmen, as well as business analysts and experts.'
‘My impressions from this trip really exceeded my expectations - Fakhrudin Arnautovich, undergraduate student of the Business Administration programme at the University of Lucerne, told us - Of course, such a small country as Switzerland and such a huge one as Russia will obviously differ from each other, but I didn't think this difference would be so huge. Even the forms of education in Russia are different from those in Switzerland. Russian lecturers clearly prefer students to ask questions only after the completion of the lecture, and our teachers do their best to involve students in a discussion right the way through the class. Russian students are supposed to show respect to their teachers. This is a kind of respect that comes from below to above. In Switzerland a student and a teacher communicate respectfully, but as equals. I am sorry that I know so little about Russian history. It seems to me that the roots of cultural specifics are always hidden in the history of a country's development. And one more thing - I would like to come back to Russia in winter, to see it as I often see it on photos and paintings - snow-covered and particularly charming'.
Valentina Gruzintseva, HSE News Service