Published on:
12
June 2012
Fifteen young leaders from the successor states of the USSR will visit Clackmannanshire this week to see how "democracy works" in the Wee County.
The visit has been arranged by the John Smith Memorial Trust, established in memory of the late Labour leader. It is largely funded by the UK Ministry of Justice and has the full support of both the British and Scottish Governments.
The Fellows - from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine - are selected through a rigorous interview process which concentrates on their proven leadership qualities and ability to contribute to democratic governance when they return home. Aged largely 28-34, all speak fluent English.
Trust Director Russell Beattie said: "Apart from Holyrood and Westminster, we want the Fellows to see how a local authority works and inter-relates with its citizens. Clackmannanshire is ideal for that."
The Fellows start their programme in Bute House, Edinburgh with First Minister Alex Salmond, and end in Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron.
When they arrive in Clackmannanshire this Friday, 15th June, they will be officially welcomed by the Lord-Lieutenant, the Rt. Hon. George Reid, and the Provost of Clackmannanshire, Councillor Tina Murphy, who will present them with a DVD, depicting the attractions of the Wee County.
Provost Murphy said: "We look forward to meeting our distinguished visitors. We understand that they are interested in what the Council is doing in social care, education, business development and environmental services and hope they can take some of our best practice home with them."
They will have presentations from Elaine McPherson Chief Executive of Clackmannanshire Council, Stuart Crickmar, Head of Strategy & Customer Services, Clackmannanshire Council, Jennifer Syme, Clackmannanshire Women's Aid, Elaine McDonagh, Alloa Community House and Malcolm McArdle, Alloa Community Enterprises.
The Lord-Lieutenant, who speaks Russian, visits regularly and lived there in 2008-09, and holds both the Pirogov Gold Medal of the USSR and the Medal of Merit of the Russian Federation, said:
"I have been working closely for the Trust, primarily in Moldova, for the past five years. I shall be reminding the visitors that the founder of the Russian Academy of Sciences was Robert Erskine from Alva, physician to the Tsar Peter the Great."
Veaceslav Driglov from Tiraspol will be attached to Clackmannanshire Council for an additional two days, 18th and 19th June, during which he will study joined-up services and recycling.
After a week in Scotland the Fellows conclude their programme in London with presentations on their action plans in their home countries.
Further information is available from the Trust's website: www.johnsmithmemorialtrust.org