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Andrey Illarionov Felt the Change of Climate
// They didn’t give floor to the Russian President’s Advisor in Davos
Freedom of speech
The Davos Worlds Economic Forum (WEF) gets underway later today. Its main topic is dollar- its joyless present and unpredictable future. It’s obvious that Russia is not on the top of the list (Kommersant of January 20). Nevertheless, there was a great scandal before the beginning of the forum. Andrey Illarionov was the man in the middle.
Andrey Illarionov has been participating in the forum very actively. However, yesterday, he declared he wouldn’t go to Davos.
That’s his protest against the “censorship policy” at the WEF. The prehistory of the declaration, that has sparked the interest in Davos forum, at least in Russia, is the following. WEF has always examined the global problems of the world economy. The organizers of the forum have been trying hard to cease to be a traditional and well-adjusted target for anti-globalization activists. The organizers touched upon the question of so-called social responsibility of those who made globalization their busyness. The discussion of the problems of changes in the world climate, and, accordingly, Kyoto Protocol, is the topic among the globalization problems. Illarionov, the ferocious opponent of the protocol and Russia’s participation in it, did his best to touch upon the question in Davos. Particularly, on July 7-8, 2004, the Russian scientific community discussed the Kyoto Protocol problems. The Russian President’s Advisor and Advisor to British government David King took part in it. The advisors held different opinions. Illarionov says warns that the restrictions imposed by the Kyoto Protocol on the Russian industry development will influence the economic growth. Besides, the connection between warming and emissions of greenhouse gases hasn’t been proved yet. David King reckons that the year 2005, when Great Britain presides in G8, should become the year of members of the protocol growth. The protocol, in his opinion, gives ways to new ecologically safe paths of economic development. They decided to carry on the discussion somewhere else, and Davos was one of the places.
But there will be no continuation in Davos. There also will be no Illarionov there. He refused from the participation in the forum because they didn’t give him chance to participate “in the sessions devoted to the global warmth problems”. The organizers, according to Illarionov, have refused participation in the sessions to him, because all the sessions on climate are coordinated by the British authorities and only David King will take the floor. As Kommersant learnt, there was a brisk correspondence between Illarionov and the organizers, in which the Russian President’s Advisor insisted on the discussion. The organizers suggested that he should speak in other sessions. Illarionov made a statement. “Rejection of the debates in the World Economic Forum is an unexampled case. The prohibition on participation in the discussions, on statement of points of view that I shared by the thousands of scientists and experts all over the world is just a censorship implementation.” Kommersant asked the WEF Chief Executive Marc Adams to comment on the opinion. He called it “too strong.” Adams said there were too many guests and there was no possibility to for a guest to take a floor whenever they want. The agenda was regulated. Illarionov wanted to express his opinion on climate changes but we had no chance to give him floor at “Business and Changes in Climate” discussion. We suggested he should speak at another discussion group. But he was obstinate and refused. He said they were sorry but still they didn’t considered that to be a censorship policy.
So, we have a scandal. Illarionov failed to persuade the Russian President to refrain from participation in Kyoto Protocol. Russia ratified it on October 22, 2004.
Andrey Bagrov
All the Article in Russian as of Jan. 26, 2005
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