CRA President, Natalie Sabelnik and CRA Washington representative & East Coast Director, Serge Rogosin attended the World Russia Forum in Washington DC on March 25-26, and the Russia Forum NY in New York on March 27. Both forums, of which CRA was one of the sponsors, brought together hundreds of individuals whose professional lives involve Russia to discuss US-Russia diplomatic and business relations against the backdrop of the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Leading American and Russian experts from the field of politics, education, culture, and media participated in discussions at the forum in Washington DC, and from business, sciene and innovation in New York. Throughout both forums, the urgent need for understanding, proactive diplomacy and respect for each nation’s geopolitical interests were heard, and members of the American media resonated that the current news being reported in the US, was very one-sided and clear evidence of being extremely biased.

Speakers at the 35th annual World Russia Forum included Dana Rohrabacher, Stephen Cohen, Ray McGovern, Robert Parry, Gilbert Doctorow, Patrick L. Smith, Katrina vanden Heuvel. and members of US media, including Charles Bausman, editor of Russia Insider. Panel of speakers at the Russia Forum NY including Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Dmitry Akhanov, Michael Averko, James Min, and Peter Pettibone. CRA President gave the introduction at the Russia Forum NY, and suggested that both economies – Russia and US could only benefit if they worked together, and that it was time to end this continuous Cold War, as US and Russia have always been allies.

This year, especially, is important to note, as it is the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, and it was Soviet and American troops alliance that defeated Nazi Germany in 1945. Natalie Sabelnik was an honorary guest that evening for Princess Diana Bagrationi’s fundraiser and tribute to P.Tchaikovsky, at the Russian Consulate NY for children with Down Syndrome. N.Sabelnik presented D.Bagrationi and VK Productions with an honorary proclamation, thanking them for their continued humanitarian aid work, and preservation of Russian culture and the arts.