INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ECONOMISTS (IUE)

In the period from October 17 to 26, 2003 was held an annual Meeting of the International Union of Economists. The place of the meeting was the ship "Princess Katarina", which travelled along the cities in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary in the frames of cruise along river Danube.The topic of the meeting was "Role and place of the European cooperation in the development of the world economy". The choice of such unusual place for the meeting was not occasional. Danube is intereuropean water arterial, which connects many countries of the continent. Each of these countries is interesting from social-economic, historical, cultural points of view. Germany is the third economic state in the world. After the world wars and separation, the country was united ten years ago and continuously increases its potential. Germany is an authoritative and powerful member of NATO, European Community, UN and supports in its policy own and European interests. Germany is an old political and economic partner of Russia, and these relations despite hard load of the past conflicts have good perspectives. Austria, Slovakia and Hungary are also old partners of Russia. Austria has bright culture and developed economy, traditional neutrality and traditional bridge between Eastern and Western Europe. Ex-countries from the socialist side Slovakia and Hungary will have to find their place in the current events in the European region. Hungary has already entered NATO and practically has become a member of the United Europe. Slovakia is no more at the edge of this process. These countries have problems, related to reconstruction of political and economic systems, and their experience is very important for economists, scientists and politicians of Russia. Slovakia and Hungary have their own particularities of the transition period, but there are also same features. Useful experience of this reconstruction is interesting for the elaboration of the strategy of economic development of Russia. The main task of the Meeting was using the world experience and taking into consideration political situation to find out new ways and forms of European co-operation in business, scientific, cultural and educational spheres.

In the discussion on the topic of the Meeting took part:

FAMINSKI I.P., Director of the All-Russian scientific research institute on foreign economic relations under the Ministry of economic development and trade of RF; His topic was "Problems of European economic cooperation".

LIVOV D.S., Head of section of economics of the Department of public sciences RAN. His topic "Russian and the world-strategic orientators of the long-term development"

KOROBEINIKOV M.A., a member of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of RF. His topic "Role and place of Russia in the development of the world economy".

ABALKIN L.I., Director of the Institute of economics, RAN. His topic "Long-term strategy of Russia - key question of Russia integration into Europe".

RYABUCHIN S.N., Auditor of the Accounting Chamber of the Russian Federation. His topic "Interaction of European state organs of financial control as a factor of economic development"

CHERNY N.Y., Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Lukoil-Moldova", "Lukoil-Romania". His topic "Activity of transnational company "Lukoil" in the countries of the Balkan region and its role in the development of European integration". RAEVSKI V.A., President of the International Consultative-legal Center on taxation. His topic "International cooperation and economic growth".

DAMURCHIEV V.N., Head of Moscow land Committee. His topic "About the tasks of Moscow Complex on property and land in the process of creation of favorable investment climate".

GRIBINUCHENKO M.N., First deputy of Prefect of the South-Eastern area of Moscow. His topic "Investment climate of megapolis and measures on its improvement (Moscow as example)"

ASSAUL A.N., Chairman of Board of Directors OAO "Project and construction association Lenoblgradstroy". His topic "Role of European cooperation in the development of new production systems"

POPOV G.Ch., President of the International Union of Economists. His topic "Mankind in the XXI century and future of Russia". In the frames of cruise there were held business meetings in Passau (Germany), Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Budapest (Hungary).

In Germany in the business lunch took part: D. Plenk, Deputy Senior Mayor of Passau; J. Rosenberger, Managing director for general activities of Passau; G. Stampach, Tourist company "Globus", General agent; W. Schweitzer, Rector, Passau University; doctor, professor; L. Klepatskiy, Consul General of the RF Embassy in Germany. Local news-paper "Passauer Neue Presse" wrote an article about the meeting

At the meeting in Bratislava took part: P. Seko, Slovak Republic' Ministry of Economy, Director for international Trade; G. Mesezhnikov, President of Public Affairs Institute; P. Demesh, The German Marshall Fund of the US, Director for Central and Eastern Europe; P. Krajchik, the Union of engineering industry of Slovak Republic, Vice-president; N. Derbin, the RF Embassy in Slovak Republic, envoy & adviser; R. Boldotsky, newspaper "HospodarskЬ dennik" ("Economic daily paper"), deputy Editor-in-Chief.

In Vienna with IUE' members had a talk: G. Stock, Representative of Austrian Economic Chamber for external economic links with Russia and the Eastern Europe; V. Matyushkin, "Raiffeisen Zentralbank" (Austria); S. Beschaner, Federal Ministry of Economy and Labour of Austria, Head of Department of economic relations with Central and Eastern Europe; H. Hintereger, Vice-president of Institute of Danube region and Central Europe; A. Golovin, the RF Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Austria.

In Budapest meeting took part: J. Sita, Hungarian Academy of Science, Institute for World Economy; M. Joszef, ex-Vice Prime-Minister of the Hungarian Peoples Republic; T. Palankai, Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, professor of the Budapest University of Economics; T. Halm, Secretary-General of the Hungarian Economic Association, Vice-President of the Office for National Development and European Support in the Office of the Prime Minister; L. Szamuely, Doctor of Science in Economics; K. Popradi, Hungarian Association of Economic Analyses, Head of Research Center; L. Maszlag, Hungarian Association of Economic Analyses, Head of Research Projects; V. Musatov, the RF Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Hungary; N. Udovichenko, the RF Embassy in Hungary, Senior adviser; A. Prokhorenko, Head of the RF trade Delegation in Hungary.

These meetings allowed to put right interaction and cooperation between International Union of Economists and economists-scientists and practicians from the Central Europe, as well as to expand geographical activity of the Union. Local mass media published articles about IUE. At the Meeting were discussed practical and organizational questions.

According to the decision of the IUE Presidium there was a ceremony of presentation of new membership cards, where it is noted, that International Union of Economists is a UN NGO and is in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the UN. G.Ch.Popov, President of the IUE presented membership cards to the participants of the Meeting.

After the discussion it was decided to hold next annual Meeting in Cuba from January 31 to February 7, 2004 on the topic "Globalization and economic development".