Congressional Meetings in Washington, D.C., March 2007

The Center for Citizen Initiatives (CCI) carried out an unprecedented 84 meetings in Washington, D.C. between 105 Russian entrepreneurs and U.S. Congress members, foreign policy staff, policy institutions, Departments of State and Commerce, the National Security Council and scores of VIPs, March 20 to 30, 2007. This citizen initiative was taken on to broaden and deepen the discussion about what kind of relationship is appropriate and critical between the U.S. and Russia from 2007 forward.

Background: Glasnost and Perestroika brought hope of an end to Cold War enemy-making politics and media; Communism fell in 1991 bringing assurance of a new relationship with Russia; Russia's 90's brought lawlessness, chaos, and mass robbery of the country's wealthiest state enterprises - the west, unlike the Russians, interpreted this decade as one of democracy building. Year 2000 ushered in VV Putin as president of Russia who unexpectedly became a nation builder with his own vision of how to get Russia out of disorder and destitution. Year 2001 brought the tragic events of 9/11. Shortly afterward signs of discontent with Russia emerged in the Bush administration. In 2003, Russia's unwillingness to be part of the Iraq "coalition of the willing" increased the administration's uneasiness, with U.S. media picking up the drum beat against Russia. Since then, the relationship has at times been civil, but drifting toward enemy making with increasing headlines such as, "Russia has become a terrorist state", Washington Post, December 15, 2006, which, like many other such headlines between 2003 and today, have been downloaded to newspapers across America. . During this entire period (1989 to 2007), CCI has provided business management training in U.S. companies for 6,500 of Russia's regional entrepreneurs from 71 of Russia's 89 regions. One of the tasks has been to travel across the regions to determine how the US experience is being used by entrepreneurs. Businesses are examined, cities far beyond Moscow are observed year after year. During these travels, CCI leaders have observed a different Russia and a different mentality forming in Russian minds, from what they get in U.S. newspapers. Further, speaking throughout the U.S., from east to west, revealed a marked change in the stereotypes of American citizens regarding Russia between 2003 and 2007. When asked what had changed their opinions about Russia, they continually referred to what they gleaned from American media.

It became clear that CCI leaders weren't the only Americans concerned about the level of misinformation, half truths, fabrications and double standards being applied to Russia and Russia's president. Experts, former ambassadors and American analysts working in Russia, while seeing a country with much work yet to do, were beginning to question the one-sided negative slant on all things Russian. To get a different point of view on Russia in the media was near to impossible - the story line was locked in place.

CCI felt the one thing we, the largest organization working across Russia's regions, could do was to create a temporary "open space" with key Congress members where another point of view could be inserted into their thinking. Hence the mega delegation of Russian entrepreneurs was organized.

March 20 - 30, 2007, Russia's entrepreneurs met with the top Congressional offices in Washington to answer questions about what is currently going on in Russia, and what they see for their personal futures and for Russia's future. They had received no prompting, no opinion to promote - but were simply encouraged to answer questions individually, whatever their opinions happened to be.

Congressional members, foreign policy staff, think tanks and VIPs report refreshing and stimulating discussions about an evolving Russia which, although it has huge problems yet to solve, the entrepreneurs seem to think the country is headed in the right direction, is benign in its international affairs, and will be no threat to America in the future.

This purely non-governmental citizen initiative in March 2007 has created a number of follow-on activities which will be featured in the Events section of the CCI website. One is a series of "discussion dinners" regarding different points of view on Russia. The first will be held on April 25 in Washington for Congress members/foreign policy staffers and recognized experts on Russia issues. It will be hosted by Sarah Carey, Atty with Squires, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP where she leads the firm in legal cases in the CIS countries. Ms. Carey is chair of the board for the Eurasia Foundation and was on the board of directors of Yukos Oil Company before it was dismantled by the Putin administration. More to follow.