On November 4, as part of the Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future," a series of interviews began at the National Center "Russia," featuring prominent politicians, scientists, and cultural figures over three days. The first speaker in an open dialogue format was Karin Kneissl, head of the Geopolitical Observatory for Key Issues of Russia – the G.O.R.K.I. Center at St. Petersburg State University and Austria’s Foreign Minister (2017–2019). The interviewer was Semyon Mikhaylovsky, a member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Culture and Arts and the rector of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts named after Ilya Repin.
Topics of the interview included art, history, education, and creativity. “When it comes to intellectuals, I cannot name a single intellectual currently living in Austria. I was a diplomat in my country, then an analyst. I have always been mentally independent – I never sold my soul to anyone. Let me give you hard facts that surprise Russians. About 70% of the govement, of which I was a part, did not even receive an education. They have no diplomas. They just finished school, and that’s it. And what is an intellectual? To me, it is a person who thinks independently, calling a spade a spade. During the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all schools and universities in Germany and Austria were closed. And these very intellectuals were in favor of keeping schools shut altogether. If you are for progress and want to be seen as an independent person, you don’t close schools,” said Karin Kneissl.
Karin Kneissl emphasized that she worked all her life and did so honestly. "So that I could always look calmly at my reflection in the mirror. Yes, many consider me unconventional. People from Moscow come to my wooden house in the village, and they are astonished. They probably expected something different. But this is my life. And it is far more important to me than other things," Karin Kneissl stressed.
Ms. Kneissl shared with Semyon Mikhaylovsky and the session guests how she wrote her book Requiem for Europe.“When the book was ready, and I wanted to present it to readers, I asked, ‘Where can I do this? In which bookstore?’ And they replied that bookstores in Europe have disappeared. They are no longer there. The cover of my book features Pieter Bruegel’s painting The Blind Leading the Blind. There were many interpretations of this painting, including ones about mutual support. But the interpretation closest to me is one of foolishness – the blind leading the blind. It’s sad. This book gave me a certain structure; I felt perspective. The Europe I was grateful to in past years, the Europe of culture, the Europe that many Russians envision. Well, that Europe is dead, unfortunately,” concluded Karin Kneissl.
The Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future" takes place from November 4 to 6, with participants including scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and govement representatives from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program includes over 60 sessions covering four areas: the future of humanity, the future of technology, the future of a multipolar world, and the future of civilizations. The program and event broadcasts are available on the website https://future.russia.ru/.
The Inteational Symposium "Creating the Future" is the first event of the National Center "Russia," established on July 1, 2024, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. The center is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Inteational Exhibition Forum "Russia" and showcasing the achievements of the country and its people. Federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions are involved in the center’s work.
