In the mourning days devoted to the August war of 2008, the chairman of the International noncommercial Association «Renaissance Saendidzaen» Radion Pukhaev arrived in the RSO. In his interview to the correspondent of the news agency "Res" the head of the organization has told about the purpose of his visit, activity and his further plans.
- Radion, is your organization registered officially in the public authorities of Belgium (how it is called, where and when it is registered)?
- Our organization «Renaissance Saendidzaen» - is registered, and what is much important, it is the international organization. We were registered in 2009 and, certainly, the events of August, 2008 in South Ossetia promoted activization. We were organizing meeting, we tried to defend our point of view against interpretation of these events which prevailed not only in Belgium, but also in the West. I`d like to make an example. We have organized an exhibition; one Belgian journalist has come in and was amazed at what he had seen. «Why in Georgia there are no so large-scale destructions as in Ossetia», - he has asked. I gave him a book about the August events of 2008 in South Ossetia. He said that he would try to write about it through the blogs. I think, we have been right to do it -we should make ourselves known and should not expect for momentary results.
- How many people are in your organization, what are your purposes and tasks?
Our organization includes four men who are its founders. We are not diaspora, as diaspora is a large incorporated organization. We have definite purposes, the main is-popularization of South Ossetia, covering the events of the RSO abroad, in particular, in Belgium. We are publishing the magazine "Renaissance" and we spread it among the bodies of the European power: Euro Commission, Euro Parliament, in the public organizations, «the Red Cross» etc.
- What is the basic field of operations of your organization?
- First of all, we acquaint the Europeans with the Ossetian culture, its history, modern life, and with the events of nowadays South Ossetia. Also we are covering the life of the Ossetian Diasporas in Europe. We have prepared special release of the magazine devoted to the August war in South Ossetia. We carry out actions, in particular, round tables, photo-exhibitions, etc., devoted to the war of August, 2008. This year, in June we opened a joint exhibition of the Ossetian-Belgian artists, conducted a round table with participation of the creative intelligentsia of Ossetia, and the European countries. Representatives of the Ossetian diaspora, politicians and public figures of Belgium become the participants of our actions. We have been the co-organizers of the other actions in Paris, Strasbourg etc. We are also cofounders of the Belgian Federation of the Russian-speaking organizations; so, these organizations also support us and visit our actions. When we held meetings in 2008, they took an active part in them.
- Whether your organization has a possibility to assist in the establishment of friendly and professional relations in different spheres between South Ossetia and Belgium?
- Yes, certainly has, I repeat, we have conducted a round table of the Ossetian creative intelligentsia and the countries of Europe; we have organized an exhibition with participation of the Ossetian, Belgian and French artists. I think that we have quite a good possibility to help and promote establishment of cultural and other relations between South Ossetia and Belgium. The good will is necessary,- first of all, Ossetia should be interested in it, and then, I think, we will be able to incline the Europeans to comprehension that they should be more interested in our Republic. We are engaged in it, I can`t say that we have scored great success, but we are working, and in my opinion, this work will be fruitful. One should not create illusions that suddenly all the doors will open before us in Europe, but I think, it is necessary to knock at the closed door and sooner or later it will be opened.
- What are the short-range plans of your organization?
- Certainly, we have a lot of plans. In the near future we plan to release the next issue of the magazine "Renaissance". We are going to create the second construction team from Europe to help in restoration works in South Ossetia. In 2009 we already worked here. The Ossetian diaspora in Belgium celebrates the Ossetian holidays and we take part in them. We planned to publish our magazine quarterly, but unfortunately, it was not always available for some reasons. But we try to keep in this schedule. In the near future we plan to organize the Media centre in Belgium; preliminary agreements with North Ossetia have been already made, we also plan to make an agreement with the TV management in South Ossetia, for the purpose of the firsthand acquaintance of Belgium with the life of Ossetia.
