Alan Kasayev: “Potential role of VK’s analytic section may prove to be quite special”

20 years ago, after the collapse of the USSR, 15 new independent states emerged on the world map. This year these states celebrated the anniversary of their independence: Ukraine in August, Azerbaijan in October, etc. Kazakhstan will be the last one to celebrate its anniversary of independence - on December, 16. Experts estimate that this is one of the most economically successful of the post-Soviet states. It is the closest ally of Russia in the frames of the CIS and in the future Eurasian Union. Nevertheless, average Russians are not familiar with Kazakhstan’s most recent history. To fill up this gap a group of Russian political and economic experts, historians and geographers prepared a collection of articles entitled ’20 years of Kazakhstan’s independence’. One of the collection’s editors, vice-chancellor of the Moscow State University of Printing Industry Alan Kasayev told VK about the project.

- Mr Kasayev, please tell us about the ’20 years of Kazakhstan’s independence’ project that you co-authored.

- This collection’s edition is the initiative of Alexei Vlasov, the chief editor of ‘Vestnik Kavkaza’ media agency. He is also the head of the Post-Soviet Research Center of the Economy Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences and the head of the international ‘AIRO-XXI’ council. The idea was supported by Alexei Malashenko, well-known orientalist, who wrote an article on Nursultan Nazarbayev’s role in the recent history of CIS members. The preface of the edition is authored by Yephim Pivovar, RAS corresponding member. Tatyana Sinitsina wrote an article on Astana. Geographer Sergei Kolesnikov offered us an article on unique landscapes of Kazakhstan. The article on Kazakh culture is authored by RIA Novosti expert Andrei Gubenko. It is virtually impossible to find an analogue to our edition as it comprises geographical, cultural, historical, political and urbanistic studies. And I assure you none of these articles is dull. This edition is an example of a fruitful cooperation between RIA Novosti and VK media agencies.

-Just recently a Forum of European and Asian media, organized by RIA Novosti, took place in Astana. ‘Vestnik Kavkaza’ participated in this event. Are there any other projects that could be realized by RIA Novosti and VK together?

- I am always open to cooperation with VK. We are still to discuss the cooperation plan for the next year in RIA Novosti, but the general trend is clear. First of all, we declared the year 2012 to be the year dedicated to Russian history. So we will be interested in the history of the Caucasus annexation as well, and in this regard the potential role of VK’s analytic section can prove to be quite special and important. Secondly, the next year is also the year of innovations, and the project of Caucasian resort complex is one of the most important innovations, and it is important to ensure its informational support. There is a whole series of other interesting issues, including inter-cultural dialog, labor migration problems, etc.

Interview by Maria Sidelnikova