RUSSIA: CPH POST Supplement, 2017

source: ratbud cs9.pikabu.ru

AMBASSADOR’S WELCOME

Dear readers, It is with great pride and honour that I represent my native country – the Russian Federation, the country with an interesting and many centuries old history – here in Denmark.

Russia is an integral part of the European culture, but promotes its interests in Asia as well. Our country is a multi-national state with nearly 190 nationalities; we speak more than 150 languages. We are in ninth place on a list of the world’s most populous countries – the population of Russia is currently about 146 million people. According to the world economic indicators, the Russian economy is among the 10 leading global economies and has significant potential for future development.

The Russian Federation has always been an important player in global affairs and preserves this position today. We build our relations with the rest of Europe and other countries of the world on the principles of sovereignty, equality

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of nations, mutual respect and refraining from interference in internal affairs. We support an equal dialogue with our partners, whether it is multilateral interaction or bilateral relations, including those with Denmark.

The first records of Russian-Danish relations date back to the 9th-10th centuries. Both European and Russian sources from that time confirm that ancestors of the present Nordic nations – including the Danes – maintained relations with ancient Russian principalities. Family ties between representatives of the nobility of the two nations had already been established in the Middle Ages. An example of that was the dynastic marriage between Ingeborg of Kiev (granddaughter of Vladimir II Monomakh, the Grand Prince of Kievan Rus’) and the Prince of Denmark, Canute Lavard. In fact, the son of Ingeborg and Lavard – the future Danish King Valdemar the Great – was also married to the Russian Princess Sophia of Novgorod.

More than a thousand years ago the trade route from Scandinavia to Kievan Rus’ was already functioning. It was used to transport a vast variety of merchandise as well as for cultural exchange and to increase knowledge of each other.

The first treaty which laid down the foundation of Russian-Danish official relations was the ‘Treaty of Love and Brotherhood’, signed in 1493 by Grand Prince of Moscow, Ivan the Third, and King Hans of Denmark. However, the first permanent Russian diplomatic mission was established in Copenhagen in 1700 and then, in 1893, reorganised into an Embassy.

A new significant turn in the development of bilateral relations took place during the reign of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, who sought Denmark’s support in the Northern War. The tsar himself visited Copenhagen in 1716 when the two countries were conducting negotiations on the deployment of troops in the Swedish province of Skåne.

In 19th century we reached one more important milestone in the development of relations between the two countries, when the successor to the throne of the Russian Empire, Grand Prince Alexander, future Russian Emperor Alexander the Third, married Danish Princess Dagmar (the second daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark) who went down in Russian history as Empress Maria Fiodorovna – mother of the last Russian Emperor

Nikolas the Second. It is noteworthy that this year we celebrate the 170th birthday of Princess Dagmar, who contributed a lot into the development of our bilateral relations. In 2013, thanks to the sponsorship of the Russian and Danish companies, we inaugurated a bust of Empress Maria Fiodorovna on Dagmars Plads in Frederiksberg.

For almost one thousand years the Russians and Danes have been doing their best to build strong economic, political, diplomatic and cultural ties. And nowadays, despite some fragility and difficulties in our bilateral relations, we have to try to continue this dialogue by means of reciprocal action in different fields and not allow political intrusion from outside to have an effect.

Today we need to recover the culture of diplomacy and dialogue. Russia has always been – and remains – open to work jointly with all those who show mutual willingness to co-operate.

I would like to wish all the readers of the Copenhagen Post prosperity, good fortune and would be pleased to invite you and your families to visit and enjoy the most famous and widely known places of interest in my country, as well as to open your eyes to some of the unfamiliar – but no less interesting – charms of Russia.

Mikhail Vanin Ambassador of Russia to Denmark

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TOURISM IN RUSSIA

A GUIDE TO THE MAJOR SITES FOR PLEASURE AND AN INTRODUCTION TO SOME NEW ONES The Russian Federation covers more than oneeighth of the globe’s inhabited land area. We share land borders with 18 countries – Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belorussia, Ukraine, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, North Korea; we share maritime frontiers with Japan and the USA.

Golden Mountains of Altai (the UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Yaroslavl, source: korolcat.ru

Rostov Velikiy, source: polosaty.ru

Suzdal, source: travel.rambler.ru

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Tourism is a developing sector of the Russian economy. According to the World Tourism Organization’s data, Russia occupies one of the leading places in the world in the sphere of international tourism and for the first time ever, it has entered the top 10 most-visited countries.

During the last two years the tourist market in Russia has changed considerably. With the decline of travel abroad, inner and entry tourism in Russia began to rise quickly, and the potential for further growth inside the country is by no means exhausted.

As an immense country, the territory of which extends across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, Russia has great tourism potential: from the Black Sea coasts and the peaks of the North Caucasus to Primorskiy Krai and Kamchatka.

Traditionally, the most famous sights and tourist routes of Russia are Moscow, with its Kremlin and Red Square, UNESCO World Heritage sites and Saint Petersburg (‘Venice of the North’), which in 2017 for the third time received the World Travel Award as the best tourist city of Europe.

Nonetheless, in addition to visiting these two great cities it is worth mentioning spa resorts such as those in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, the ski resorts of the North Caucasus and Siberia, “The Golden Ring” of Russia, with eight principal ancient towns (Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal and Yaroslavl), Volga river cruises, trips to Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal, volcanoes of Kamchatka – and many others.

Republic of Karelia, source: Anna Rudenko, prussiantourism.ru

Lake Baikal, source: laovaev.net

In Russia there are many unique cultural and natural objects, many of them UNESCO-protected. In this context, it is worth mentioning the beautiful Lake Baikal – the deepest freshwater lake in the world. There is developing tourist infrastructure on the lake side. In particular, excursion trains run on the historical part of the Circum-Baikal Railway which was built more than a hundred years ago and is a remarkable monument to engineering. There are a lot of beautifully constructed tunnels and bridges along the way.

In Listvyanka village there is a museum entirely dedicated to the Lake.

Kizhi Pogost, Republic of Karelia, source: webdiscover.ru

Undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful areas of Russia is the Republic of Karelia – the region of forests and lakes.

The famous Kizhi Pogost on Kizhi Islands, located in Lake Onega, is a historical site dated back to 18th century. It contains two churches built exclusively of wood – the 22-dome Transfiguration Church and the 9-dome Intercession Church.

Kizhi Pogost is a cultural site included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

One of the first Russian properties to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is the Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands. This historical and architectural property is located in one of six Solovetsky Islands in the western part of the White Sea in the north of Russia.

Solovetsky Monastery, source: wikipedia.org

Adygeya is an amazing place, with a great diversity of natural attractions. It lies in the foothills of the Northwest Caucasus in the Caucasus Mountains system. The height of the Republic’s major mountains and peaks is between 2,000 and 3,238 metres.

A mountain system covers a significant part of the territory of Russia, including the northern part of the highest mountain system in the whole Europe – the Caucasus.

There you can find a great many waterfalls, beautiful canyons and the mountain climbers’ favorite peaks. Many unique animals and birds inhabit this region.

Picturesque republics and regions, each with their own ethnicity and vast variety of traditions, are spread out at the foot and among the mountains of the North Caucasus.

Traditionally popular with tourists are the Republic of Adygeya, the Krasnodar Region, the Chechen Republic, the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic and many others.

Adygeya, source: Hafisov Ahat, komanda-k.ru DISCOVER YOUR OWN RUSSIA

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The largest and the oldest Caucasian Nature (Biosphere) Reserve in the Northwest Caucasus Mountains, with marvelous alpine meadows, is situated on the territory of three regions of the Russian Federation – Adegeya, the Krasnodar Region and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The Western Caucasus is also on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Caucasian Nature Reserve, source: Hafisov Ahat, komanda-k.ru

Sochi Seaport, source: travelask.ru

A large and modern infrastructure has been developed in the suburbs of Sochi city – the site of the XXII Winter Olympic and Paralympics Games 2014. The mountain cluster of Krasnaya Polyana ski resort has become the main venue for competitions of all types on snow and snow-ice tracks during the Olympic Games.

It is impossible to imagine the Kabardino-Balkaria Repub-

Rosa Khutor settlement (Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi), source: Ilya Varlamov, varlamov.ru

lic in the North Caucasus without Mount Elbrus, one of the highest peaks on the globe and the highest mountain in Russia and in Europe. The elevation of Mount Elbrus is 5,642 metres above sea level. The melt water from glaciers flowing down from the slopes of Elbrus feeds many of the large rivers of the area. The Elbrus regions are very popular for sport, tourism and climbing activities.

Mount Elbrus, source: elbrus.guide

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Another North Caucasus republic in the South of Russia is the Chechen Republic with its capital Grozny, which like the Phoenix, has revived from the ashes of war. Today Grozny symbolizes the peace and brotherhood of nations. In 2015 the city was given an honorary title “City of Military Glory”. One of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Russia, officially known as “Heart of Chechnya”, is located in the city.

The Republic is also famous for its cultural and natural properties.

The Heart of Chechnya Mosque, source: russiantourism.ru

If one would like to breathe in the spirit of Buddhism, there is no reason to go to the traditional centres of world Buddhism – India, China, Tibet or Mongolia. For those travelling through the Russian South there is a great opportunity to admire one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe – the Golden Adobe of Buddha Shakyamuni – situated in Elista city in the Republic of Kalmykia. Of course, this republic is not the only place where the third most popular religion in the country can be found.

Primorskiy Krai or Primorye (maritime territory) is extensively developing and is the largest federal subject in the Far East of Russia with the very beautiful capital Vladivostok, which is also the home port of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The second highest bridge in the world – The Russky Bridge – connects the mainland part of the city Vladivostok with Russky Island. It was constructed for the opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization’s conference in 2012.

In 2015, Vladivostok and the surrounding region was given the status of a “free port” in order to improve the economy of the country’s Far East.

Another region of the Russian Far East is the Kamchatka peninsula, with world-famous volcanoes and the renowned Valley of Geysers, which has the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. The valley is located in the Kronotsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Volcanoes of Kamchatka’. On Kamchatka, and taking due care (!), tourists can admire big brown bears, which to many foreigners have traditionally become a kind of symbol of Russia.

Golden Adobe of Buddha ShaKyamuni, Elista (Republic of Kalmykia), source: savetibet.ru

Russky Bridge, Vladivostok, source: smitsmitty.livejournal.com DISCOVER YOUR OWN RUSSIA

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THE RUSSIAN

ARCTIC R

ussia’s Arctic Zone stretches from Franz Josef Land in the northwest to the Wrangel and Herald Islands in the east, covering about a third of the entire Arctic region. The Russian Arctic is an immense territory, including the whole Murmansk Region and the Nenets, Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous Okrugs, the northern municipalities of the Arkhangelsk Region, the Komi Republic, Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the archipelagos and islands in the Russian part of the Arctic Ocean.

Russia’s Arctic region is rich in a large variety of minerals. Primarily, it boasts an abundance of oil and gas. In addition, the flora and fauna of the Arctic are unique, comprising more than 20,000 species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms.

source: www.kremlin.ru

POPULATION OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC Approximately half of the whole Arctic population lives in Russia. Most of the inhabitants live on lands bordering on the Arctic Ocean. The three most numerous population centres above the Arctic Circle lie in Russia: Murmansk, Norilsk and Vorkuta. There are no permanent settlements above 78 degrees north latitude.

Among European peoples, Russians were the earliest settlers of the Arctic. Ethnic groups of Russians that formed in the Arctic include the Pomors, Ust-Tsilems, Markovtsy, Kolymchans, and Gizhigans. Coastal areas of the Arctic are also home to Yakuts, Dolgans, Evenks, Evens, Karelians, Nenets, Chukchi, Koryaks and others.

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source: Vera Kostamo, http://arctic.ru/photo/20161006/459673.html

source: www.kremlin.ru

DEVELOPMENT OF THE

being implemented by seven countries.

ARCTIC REGION

The Yamal LNG Project involves the resource base of Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye (South Tambey) field located on the Yamal Peninsula. The project provides for the construction of a LNG plant with a capacity of 16.5 million tons, a sea port, as well as Sabetta Airport. Yamal LNG shareholders include Novatek (50.1 percent), Total (20 percent), CNPC (20 percent) and the Silk Road Fund (9.9 percent).

According to the “Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation and National Security Efforts for the period up to 2020 and for a further perspective” the priority goals for the development of the Russian Arctic are the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Arctic Zone, including improvement of quality of life for the indigenous population and social conditions for economic activity in the Arctic; development of science and technology; creation of an up-to-date information and telecommunication infrastructure; environmental safety and international co-operation in the Arctic.

During the last few years the importance of the Arctic has greatly increased. The Russian Arctic is a region the wellbeing of which determines global climate. It is a treasure trove of unique nature and, of course, a region with a huge economic potential and opportunities.

Academic co-operation and the exchange of experience and programs are extremely important in this region, particularly within large international projects. A recent positive example is the Yamal LNG project, which is

CO-OPERATION IN THE ARCTIC Russia is determined to preserve the Arctic as a territory of constructive dialogue, development and equal co-operation and believes that there is no potential for conflict in the region. International law clearly specifies the rights of littoral and other states and provides a firm foundation for co-operation in addressing various issues, including such sensitive ones as the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean and prevention of unregulated high seas fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean. Russia is open to constructive co-operation and does its utmost to create a proper environment for its effective development.

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RUSSIAN ARCTIC NATIONAL PARK The Russian Arctic National Park – one of the largest nature reserves in the country – was established on 15 June 2009 and is capable of winning any heart –from the beauty of the Oran Islands with their bird colonies and walrus rookeries to the coast of Novaya Zemlya, with the majestic waterfall in Inostrantsev Bay. All in all, the Russian Arctic National Park is a home to many rare species, including the ivory gull and the brant (Brent goose). The waters host the great bow-headed whale, the narwhal, and the walrus.

GREEN TECHNOLOGIES source: Vera Kostamo, http://arctic.ru/photo/20161006/459673.html

NORTHERN SEA ROUTE Russia pays a particular attention to the Northern Sea Route.

Changes in the ice melting situation and the capabilities of new modern vessels will make this maritime artery fully trafficked all year round in the future. It will be an effective and reliable transport corridor with great potential for the Russian and global economies. Russia invites all foreign partners to make active use of the opportunities the Northern Sea Route offers in order to cut significantly the transportation costs and delivery time for goods between Europe and Asia.

Russia is steadily moving towards environmentally friendly standards. In 2012 a set of environmental initiatives were adopted called the “Basic Principles of State Environmental Development Policy of the Russian Federation through to 2030”. According to this document, the Russian government is encouraging domestic companies to implement environmentally green technologies in order to be competitive with other global players.

2017 is declared the Year of the Environment in Russia. This provides a unique opportunity to bring environmental issues to the public and create momentum for a much-needed green technology revolution in the country, which is rich with natural resources and a highly skilled work force.

SOLAR ENERGY

source: Yaroslav Nikitin, http://arctic.ru/photo/20150826/147888.html

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Solar energy production is growing in the Russian Federation from a very low starting point. In 2014 Russia opened its first solar power plant and there were already twenty five operational solar power stations by 1 January 2017 (about 0.03 percent of the whole Russian power grid). These power plants are a part of the national unified energy system. The four largest and most powerful of them are in Orenburg Region, two in Bashkortostan, two in Altai, one in Khakassia, one in Astrakhan Region, one in Dagestan and one in the Belgorod Region. Each has a capacity of 1-40 MW. Today, another fifty-seven solar energy plants are approved and under construction – all with more than doubling capacity – that are planned to come online between 2017 and 2020.

There are also solar power stations that function autonomously. For example, a solar farm in the Siberian village of Menza and in the village of Yailyu in Altai – as well as a small plant on the island of Valaam. The Russian government is actively working on a mechanism to support the development of renewable energy beyond the horizon of 2024.

this reprocessing plant consisted of the used fuel from Soviet-era nuclear power submarines. The radioactive fuel from more than 100 reactors of over 50 submarines has been stored for the past 35 years at Andreyeva Bay in northwestern Russia – a naval base, which was closed in 1992. The project aims to remove all of the 22,000 nuclear fuel assemblies stored at Andreyeva Bay.

WIND ENERGY

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

Wind energy production is also rapidly developing sector of the Russian economy. Currently, the Danish company Vestas has been chosen as a supplier for the 1GW capacity wind energy park in the Ulyanovsk region.

In early September the government of the Ulyanovsk region signed an agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S to create blades for wind turbines manufacturing in the region. It is planned that the new plant will work from the middle of 2019 and will annually produce about 300 blades. Until 2021 additional six wind parks are planned to be constructed in the Ulyanovsk region.

All equipment for the wind energy generation will be produced in Russia.

Currently in the Russian Federation there are several programs for the protection of the wildlife. Among them are the Polar Bear Program, the Amur Tiger Program, the Snow Leopard Program, the White Whale Program and the Far Eastern Leopard Program.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The environment authorities of Russia started to work to clean up accumulated waste and environmental damage in 2010. Franz Josef Land was chosen as a pilot territory.

2011-2015 the clean-up expeditions to Franz Josef Land and the northern part of Novaya Zemlya removed and processed more than 40,000 tons of waste and restored 349 hectares of land. Most of the shipments to

source: http://programmes.putin.kremlin.ru/en/bear/

A lot of studies are being carried out by experts from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Geographical Society and other environmental organisations in order to further study and save animals listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and other important species of Russian fauna.

In particular, the Polar Bear Program’s main objectives are to study the polar bear habitat in the Russian Arctic; to collect data about the polar bears’ migrations and the boundaries of the animals’ distribution range; the identification of factors negatively affecting polar bear populations and the causes of such factors; analyses of changes in the polar bear habitat caused by global climate changes, and implementation of a comprehensive research into these factors.

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THE OLD RUSSIAN

HANDICRAFT TRADITION It is impossible to imagine the originality of traditional Russian national culture without Russian arts and craft. For a long time Vyatka – the pre-revolutionary name of the Kirov oblast – was renowned as one of the centres of the Russian embroidery. The richest traditions of Volga embroidery, which is widespread in the southern districts, have intricately intertwined with the traditional techniques and ornamentation of the northern sewing traditions in Russia.

Vologda lace is a special phenomenon in folk art of the Russian North. The richness and variety of patterns, smoothness of lines, measured rhythm of its ornamentation and the high level of skills on display are its artistic peculiarities. Vologda lace is known all over the world, and for a long time it personified the glory of the Russian lace. The dresses of the tsars, princes and boyars were decorated with lace made of gold, silver and silk threads; a linen lace was used in traditional garments and since the end of the 19th century – a cotton lace.

Another prominent Russian folk handicraft is the Kholuy miniature – miniature lacquer paintings which took as their source the Kholuy school of icon painting. All the steps in creating the famous lacquered jewel-boxes, plates and trays are done by hand. It is a long and laborious process that guarantees the lacquer miniature will endure for many years. The artists create and choose paints individually. They work with egg tempera – a mixture of vinegar, water, egg yolk, and pigment. They then apply leaf-gold and polish it using wolves’ teeth. Finally the object is lacquered a minimum of five times and then polished Publisher: CPH POST • Editor: Hans Hermansen Journalists: Stephen Gadd • Layout: All About Digital, Copenhagen Co-ordinator: Marin Milosavljevic • Info: hans@cphpost.dk, Tel: +45 2420 2411

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CHERISHING THE MEMORY OF

FAMOUS RUSSIANS IN DENMARK Russian culture is a phenomenon which is well known in Denmark.

Famous Russian writers, composers, scientists and actors are recognised by most Danes, as well as all over the world. During the past few years RussianDanish humanitarian ties have greatly improved.

Among the practical and positive examples of such co-operation is the inauguration of the monuments to a few of the renowned ďŹ gures who have contributed a lot to Russian, Danish and world history, literature, culture and science.

The Empress of Russia Maria Fiodorovna (Princess Dagmar) (Dagmars Plads, Frederikksberg) 14

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The outstanding Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, is one of the greatest poets of all time, the founder of modern Russian literature and a creator of the modern Russian language. His famous lyrical verse and poetry is studied at nearly all European and world universities, thus deeply influencing the humanitarian education of current and future generations.

Alexander Pushkin (Copenhagen University, Humanitarian faculty)

The beginning of the cosmic era took place 60 years ago when Russia (the USSR that time) launched the first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 to orbit the Earth. This caused a sensation across the entire world. Just a few years later – in 1961 – another glorious page was added to the common history of the world – the space pioneer Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to be launched into outer space. Those first successful space achievements promoted further political, technological and scientific development in the relations between all the countries of the world.

Yuri Gagarin (Danish Technical University, Lyngby) DISCOVER YOUR OWN RUSSIA

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