{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/qj77s7k49x/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Interview with Sergey Maksimenko, February 7, 2023"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/212/original/LOHI_aviarybanner2.jpg?1741032082","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2023-02-07 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Interviewer"]},"value":{"en":["Whalen, Emily"]}},{"label":{"en":["Interviewee"]},"value":{"en":["Maksimenko, Sergey"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eSergey Maksimenko recalls his time working at, and eventually running, the EastWest Institute center in Kiev, Ukraine. Maksimenko helped develop EWI's programs for municipal governance in Ukraine, supporting Ukraine's ongoing post-Soviet transition. Maksimenko relates how Mroz felt it was important for the West to support Ukraine's independence from Russia, and how he personally worked to encourage the growth of civil society in Ukraine.\u003c/p\u003e (abstract)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Contributing Institution"]},"value":{"en":["College of Charleston Libraries"]}},{"label":{"en":["Media Type"]},"value":{"en":["Oral History"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Personal or Corporate"]},"value":{"en":["EastWest Institute","Mroz, John Edwin"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Topical"]},"value":{"en":["Civil society","Cold War","Community activists","Democratization","Entrepreneurship","Fund raising","Institution building","International relations","Municipal government","Non-governmental organizations","Russian Invasion of Ukraine, 2022-","Track two diplomacy"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject - Geographic"]},"value":{"en":["Europe, Eastern","Kharkivsʹkyĭ raĭon (Ukraine)","Kiev (Ukraine)","Russia","Ukraine","Uzhhorod (Ukraine)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type IMT"]},"value":{"en":["video/mp4"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCopyright © College of Charleston\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date Digital"]},"value":{"en":["2023-03-06"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eSergey Maksimenko recalls his time working at, and eventually running, the EastWest Institute center in Kiev, Ukraine. Maksimenko helped develop EWI's programs for municipal governance in Ukraine, supporting Ukraine's ongoing post-Soviet transition. Maksimenko relates how Mroz felt it was important for the West to support Ukraine's independence from Russia, and how he personally worked to encourage the growth of civil society in Ukraine.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCopyright \u0026copy; College of Charleston\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Lowcountry Digital Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Lowcountry Digital Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/212/original/LOHI_aviarybanner2.jpg?1741032082","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/176/046/small/Makismenko_Sergey_Feb2023.mp4_1678068704.jpg?1678068705","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Makismenko_Sergey_Feb2023.mp4"]},"duration":2460.864,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/176/046/small/Makismenko_Sergey_Feb2023.mp4_1678068704.jpg?1678068705","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-cofc.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/176/046/original/Makismenko_Sergey_Feb2023.mp4?1678068702","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":2460.864,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Transcript of Interview with Sergey Maksimenko, February 7, 2023 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nI am joined.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=0.0,2.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nOkay. So, we'll start.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2.0,4.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nOh, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=4.0,5.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nSo, it is February 7th, 2023, and my name is Emily Whalen, and this is an oral history for the EastWest Institute Oral History Archive. Could you start by telling me your name, your occupation, and where you're calling us from today?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=5.0,22.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nRight. I am Sergey Maksimenko. I worked for the EastWest Institute from June 1998 till the very end of 2003. My ending position at the Institute was EWI, country director for Ukraine, based in Kyiv. Now, I am sitting in France. I fled the war in Ukraine and I'm really appreciating this opportunity. And thank you very much, Emily, because when I got the list of questions, I took some time to look at them. And I had to admit, very good memories started coming to me.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=22.0,68.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWonderful.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=68.0,69.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nSo, it's been a very good reflection of many good things that have happened and which are associated with the EastWest Institute. So, thank you very much.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=69.0,82.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nOh, I'm glad we get a chance to talk to you today. So, why don't you start by telling me a little bit about your life before you came to the EastWest Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=82.0,91.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nI served in the Soviet and Ukrainian army for a number of years as interpreter and as instructor of military translation and in-country escort. And I resigned in 1995. I didn't see anything for me anymore. And I wanted to start kind of civilian career. And I worked for a couple of technical assistance projects in Kharkiv, Ukraine. And in 1991, I was looking for a job, wanted to go kind of, and to do something different, maybe more responsibility and, I don't know, more influence, whatever. And I had an interview with the representative of an American foundation working in Ukraine and she told me I was overqualified for the job, but instead she kindly referred me to the EastWest Institute and couple of months later I got a contract with them and it worked.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=91.0,172.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWonderful. And who were the first people that you met from the EastWest Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=172.0,178.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nThe two first people I've met were Vazil Hudak. He was a vice president at that time and director of the program. And Oleksandr Pavliuk at the time, he was the director of the Institute's Kyiv Centre, these two guys.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=178.0,201.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. And so, they brought you on to serve in which programs?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=201.0,208.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nI joined the Institute actually for a specific project, a project on community and regional development in Ukraine. I did have some understanding, well, maybe not quite a decent understanding of the topic because prior to that I worked in Kharkiv on some projects which were directly related to municipal governance and, I would say, to regional development as well. So, this is a project which I joined, but soon I found out that when joining the Institute, you have to be ... Well, I shouldn't say, \"Jack of all trades,\" that would be not even exaggeration. It will be inaccuracy or even a mistake. But if you had something to contribute, you were in demand and different teams, different projects and programs and different personalities to say nothing of John Mroz, they would be willing to keep it, capitalize on your knowledge, your skills, and your contribution.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=208.0,275.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I did contribute to a number of projects. My own project was this project on community and regional development in Ukraine, but project on new integration, I was doing some things initially marginally, but later more. Then there was a project on Belarus. I was advising the colleagues. Actually, we were a small team at the Kyiv Centre and even at the Institute despite the head centers and a few countries. So, I don't think I remember all of these projects and programs now. But what I do remember very well, this is very intense work in a team and so very multifaceted and very targeted work on specific projects and programs. This I remember very well. Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=275.0,339.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nUh-huh. Tell me a little bit about the work of your sort of home program, the project community and regional development. What were the sort of things that that project embarked on in Ukraine?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=339.0,348.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nThis is actually, even if you didn't ask me this question, it would be the first thing I would try to dwell on because one of your questions on the list you've shared with me is this: Are you proud of anything you have done when with the Institute? So, I am. And I mean, it might sound probably, for people who don't know, a bit of an exaggeration, but this is true. The EastWest Institute, this project I've mentioned, actually is, and myself actually in many ways, not totally, are godfathers of the Ukraine's regional policy. The Ukraine regional policy didn't exist at that time. And the project was actually the first major development initiative for the country, which identified this gap in a systemic, and I would say, as is popular to say today, evidence-based approach. And we started working on that despite initially the project was supposed to be working on local self-government, which is a bit different, but I have to admit ... Actually we should probably also mention that the representative of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which had been funding this project, Nicholas Deychakiwsky , he was absolutely flexible and very supportive.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=348.0,448.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, it turned out not a big deal to somehow shift the focus. Now, you know donors are sometimes, and rightly so, very demanding in terms of following the terms of the reference. So, we produced a couple of books. We had not a couple, actually. Maybe seven, eight, very good publications. A lot of measures worked with all the stakeholders. The chief of staff of the administration of the president of Ukraine was the chairman of the advisory board of the board of the project. We did a lot, and this is something to be proud of. Of course, I was not on my own. First of all, the project team was made up of two people, myself as project manager and my assistant, Yuri Tretyak. And, by the way, I would say he is one of the best experts in Ukraine on regional development, regional development policy, local development. And there were other people, my seniors at the Institute in Ukraine, experts whom would rule the government, et cetera. So, it was real good thing we have done. We can be proud of that even maybe soon 25 years later.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=448.0,533.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. I want to sort of move out into the bigger picture a little bit so we can understand the impact of this kind of regional development policy. Can you tell me a little bit about what life was like in Ukraine in the late '90s in this post Cold War moment?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=533.0,552.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYou mean the country?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=552.0,553.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nMm-hmm.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=553.0,556.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nWell, and let's say you can't in a couple of minutes describe the whole country. Let's talk about governance, right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=556.0,562.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nLet's talk about governance.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=562.0,567.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nWhich is probably most closely related to this public policy in governance. They were non-existent in many ways, and unfortunately, in some ways, they continue to be nonexistent. Let's be frank and we have to be. If we really want this country one day to become resilient today, the country needs more missiles, rockets, tanks, et cetera, et cetera, to defend the independence and the lives. But, I mean, victory, which everybody's working for today, should be something. I mean, a victorious country should be worth fighting for it, for many millions who are not fighting at the front, but who are doing their best to make the country a success. So, indeed, these issues continue to be issues, public policymaking and good governance.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=567.0,644.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"At the time the Institute came to Ukraine, we can say the theme was kind of in many ways terra incognita. So, the EastWest Institute has contributed heavily, strongly, and substantially to, on the one hand, raising the awareness of a number of key categories of stakeholders, but on the other hand, producing some very specific, very concrete results related to the original development policy and which helped, finally at the end of the day, create this policy. As of today, it does exist.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=644.0,687.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nMm-hmm. Thank you. Okay. We might have covered some of this already, but maybe we can expand on why you wanted to be involved with EWI and what your impression of the Institute was when you first joined.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=687.0,708.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nMm-hmm. Well, I mean, let's put it this way, I did not have any intention because, at the time, the Institute had been for a very short time in Ukraine, I mean presence in Ukraine. I didn't hear about the Institute, and I first heard about the EWI when I was approached by the EWI after the people from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation referred me to them. So, this is how I heard about the Institute. And then I was lucky to be accepted to the team and I had to admit that it took me quite a long time to understand where I got.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=708.0,747.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"It was something quite unusual. And for Ukraine of 25 years ago, of course, today we have bunches of different kinds of international organizations, NGOs and not NGOs working in Ukraine and for Ukraine, et cetera, et cetera. There are thousands of them, I mean, including Ukrainian NGOs. But, at that time, it was quite a rare thing. But it's not about the nature, it's not about the perceptions of Ukrainians, but most about the nature of the Institute. Roughly a year after I joined it, I understood what kind of very solid and very influential and very much respected and respectable organization I had joined. So, I was happy to find it out and I began to appreciate even more. And actually ... Well, I should stop here, probably. It's like that. Yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=747.0,826.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWhat were your interactions like with John Mroz?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=826.0,833.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nIt's something. When, looking through the questions that you shared with me, I had a few memories, of course, about many people. Well, not so many, but about some people. And John, of course, first of all. I mean, I joined the Institute and my first working day was in New York, Manhattan. I think it was 700 Broadway in that time. And when myself and Oleksandr Pavliuk, the director of the Kyiv Centre, we came to the headquarters and we had a short kind of introduction meeting with him. He's asking, \"Okay guys, what about today? Are you going to be troubleshooters or troublemakers, okay?\" Something like that. And he's—well he's being—","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=833.0,890.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWhat did you say?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=890.0,890.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah. Well, of course shooting has been a preferred option. Okay. Troubleshooting.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=890.0,895.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Yeah. So, what I was going to say is he has always been, at least, I don't remember him otherwise. He has always been very relaxed, always smiling, always full of very kind and tolerant attitudes to everybody. On the other hand, at the very same time, the very same minute, he was focused and targeted to business. It's not that he wouldn't crack a joke. Of course, he would. But he managed to combine these qualities, I think very well, in a very nice way. And in many ways I think his personality is unique. He's unique indeed, particularly if we take a look at his records, at his C.V.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=895.0,950.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, it's been a great pleasure to meet a person like that, to have worked for him. And when I became the director of the Kyiv Centre, of anyone, he would come to Kyiv. That was not very often, but that would happen once in a while and then would have dinner on ... His dinner, of course was not just a dinner, but it's a working meeting. And when I first heard his question, I was kind of, well, not exactly taken aback, but a bit surprised.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=950.0,985.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Shortly after we began the meeting with the dinner, he asked, \"Sergey, if I gave you $1 million, what would you do with that now,\" meaning what would you do for Ukraine or whatever, for other area where the EWI was operating. Something not personally, but for the public good, et cetera. And frankly, my first, not impression, but, I mean, yeah, my first impression was I thought he would be kind of, well, not exactly kidding, but kind of pulling your leg to try to somehow ... But you know what? Very soon, when I understood and I got evidence that this was not a question for just warming up, but this was a question for serious talk, serious discussion, serious work. Because John, I wouldn't say he do it like that, but it was quite easy for him to get a couple of million dollars for something good because he was known, he was respected, and he proved he did good things at the Institute. So, which means that I would be getting ready for the next meetings not exactly the way I was getting ready for the first one, but thinking kind of deeper and wider and trying to be ... Well, I mean, it sounds simple on the one hand, but you have to work hard to understand how best you could spend $1 million for something good.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=985.0,1090.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. Absolutely. It seems like that kind of big picture thinking was something that-","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1090.0,1093.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah, absolutely.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1093.0,1095.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\n... he was very good at.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1095.0,1095.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Beyond John, it sounds like you worked a lot with Oleksandr Pavliuk. Who else did you work with most closely at the Institute? And actually— Who else did you work with outside of the Institute most closely when you were part of EWI?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1095.0,1109.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah. Well, as I mentioned, my bosses were Oleksandr Pavliuk and Vazil Hudak and, of course, John. He was a boss for everybody. And he never sounded like a boss, by the way. And we had the program, Vazil was running this program, and there were a few people in the Czech Republic in the Prague Center with whom we were not just communicating but doing some products together. For example, a very good publication, \"Regional Policy Goes East,\" — I remember at some point Vazil, he suggested that I would contribute to one of the Amalinda Foundation publications.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1109.0,1167.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, the center in Moscow as well. Yeah, We were working with Alexander Kushkin, for example. I remember John liked very much his book on decentralized financing, and this was something he was trying to promote in Ukraine with Brock Santo, with the New York Center. Actually, this was, if I try to think now on a very short kind of notice of some specific personalities on specific projects, it's a bit difficult. I mean, the first people I have mentioned, first of all and foremost, in the Kyiv Centre, there was a great team of colleagues under the supervision of Oleksandr Pavliuk. This is Ivanka Ivana Klimpus, Laurisa Mudrak, and Eurov Bodowkowski, as I mentioned, Yuri Tretyak was my assistant and later he became project manager.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1167.0,1232.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, the Kyiv Centre, I don't know all the teams very well. I mean, I'm saying I cannot remember. I had a very good feeling of teamwork in all centers. But in New York, Prague, Kyiv, they were just fantastic. And Moscow probably as well. The fantastic teams, it was a pleasure to work with them.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1232.0,1258.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWho did you interact with most outside of the Institute? Were you working with municipal governments in Ukraine or ...? Tell me a little bit more about those relationships.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1258.0,1266.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah. The purpose of the project, which I was running starting the first, second year was very ambitious, new regional policy for Ukraine, new approaches, et cetera. So, it was a presidential administration, and, as I told you, chief of staff was the advisory with the chairman of the advisory board of the project, some other people there. And, of course, municipal governments in the pilot areas. But a bit later throughout the country actually, because soon after a couple of years, our work became quite well known in the country and quite, I would say, recognized. And we became visible on these radars on this map. We've been invited to basically any big event. And very often these things, I mean, you didn't have time for everything. We worked with the national associations of local civil government, the Association of Cities. I remember John's meeting, by the way, with the head of this association, I remember, and some other associations.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1266.0,1354.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, the number of stakeholders was quite big and diverse. Plus, if not talking about the original development staff, I've been doing personal, but also some networking and some kind of high profile meetings, a lot of contacts and work with embassies. A lot of ambassadors wanted to know what kind of work we had been doing. Some of them were willing to contribute, I mean, with funding, which was good. But I mean, not very few. Many people were coming to Ukraine from those countries that these ambassadors were representing and they needed some kind of non-biased opinion about things happening in the country. And they would invite you very often for dinner, for lunch, for meeting, for some events they were organizing with their bosses coming from their capitals. So, it was quite dynamic, I would say. Quite dynamic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1354.0,1432.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. It sounds like it. You mentioned that the community and regional development program began in certain pilot areas and then moved out to the broader country. What were those pilot areas and if you can give me some specific activities that you all engaged in?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1432.0,1449.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nThe pilot areas were the city of Kharkiv, the city of Uzhhorod, which is Carpathian. Then, a small town of Pervomaisk, the city of Mykolaiv oblast, in the city of Kapomise. And the force was Cherkasy. This is the oblast capital. The idea was to identify certain topics, certain themes, certain fields for research. We recruited some local people from these areas, and under our leadership and guidance, they were producing a snapshot of what these localities, these local self-governments represented at that time for the purpose for us to understand the big picture in the country. And well, of course, this was not the only source. We were having a lot of meetings, we were having conferences, we were organizing on our own and invited. We were studying the secondary literary sources, et cetera, et cetera.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1449.0,1534.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"But, so it's one of the sources, one of the instruments to understand the situation in the country better and to conclude what should be done. And we had a few publications and a number of events on these, but immediately, actually, not immediately, but very maybe beginning with a third event, third conference, when it became clearer that we were producing some good quality stuff. I mean, our conferences were covered by mass media. And not only conference, but the products as well. So, this awareness, it helped promote good governance, let's put it this way.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1534.0,1577.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nMm-hmm. That's great. And were there any setbacks when you were working at the EastWest Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1577.0,1587.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nFor me personally, I would say, \"Yes.\" They were minor, but yes. To begin with, when I got to the Kyiv Centre, as I told you, I had two bosses, the director of the Kyiv Centre and director of the program, Vazil, who was sitting in Prague. And it took me a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, to sort out the different circumstances related to this dual subordination. And to find the right balance of how I should split my level of effort and what kind of nuances I should bear in mind when communicating with each of my bosses. Had no problems, no. But I do remember I've had some kind of internal pressure. I'm telling myself, well, you don't understand probably here completely. So, just think hard or think smart or whatever, but get into the center.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1587.0,1655.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And yeah, it was not easy, but it was not a big issue. It was something I managed. And I would say, brother, not very ... I have not been late to sort out these things. But yeah, that's something which was an issue for me for a while.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1655.0,1676.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. So, eventually you became head of the Kyiv Centre and you were in that position for two years. Is that right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1676.0,1686.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah. A couple of years. Yeah, yeah.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1686.0,1688.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nWhen and why did you eventually make the decision to move on from the EastWest Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1688.0,1693.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nIt was not myself, actually. It was the decision of the board of directors of the EastWest Institute to spin off the Kyiv Centre. But this was not unexpected. This has been in the air, I don't know, for a year or whatever. And that was in line with the overall EWI policy. And John would come to one country. He would do quite a bit there, and he would leave in a few years and he would move on to Asia or to China. And today, he would be keen on supporting things that would have to do with original development and fiscal decentralization. But tomorrow, this is cybersecurity and rightly so. He had a very good nose, I would say, for these things. And he was smart to communicate with very many people, very many constituencies. So, I think he's been a pioneer on many cases. This is my impression.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1693.0,1762.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, the Institute moved on, and that was a good thing. And I stayed in Ukraine and I set up with the colleagues and an NGO, trying to ... I mean, the legacy of the EastWest Institute for a number of years has been kept by that organization and developed actually, in a way. So, then I terminated it for not a couple of reasons, but it's been a great time with the EastWest Institute. And you can never, I mean, have a contract till the rest of your life. So, it's okay to be moving once in a while, right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1762.0,1808.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nOf course. Yes.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1808.0,1811.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"We touched on this earlier, this question of what you're most proud of about your time at the Institute. And you mentioned this kind of regional development. And I'm sensitive, too, that we're having this conversation at a particularly transformational moment in Ukraine's history. Something that has come up a lot is what would EWI be doing right now in Ukraine? And I wonder if you have thoughts on that topic.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1811.0,1836.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nWell, unfortunately today, the original development, well, actually the Institute did help. Without what we did, Ukraine would've be ... Well, at some point, some other people would've done that, probably most, probably. But subjunctive mood doesn't work here. We were the first and we helped a lot. And without us it would've been slower, worse, et cetera.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1836.0,1864.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"But today ... Well, some of the things that ... Today, Ukraine is a candidate member to the European Union. So, a lot of things that we had been doing 25 years ago, they got materialized in terms of ... Unfortunately, we have to be frank, I don't know, shouldn't be on the record or on the record, but my personal ... Well, without some of the events that have taken place, recently, I'm not sure Ukraine would get this status, despite some progress. Progress is visible and it should be recognized, but much more to be done and remains to be done. Therefore, I'm not sure it would've been done without this war. But it's a different story.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1864.0,1924.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Today, organizations like EastWest Institute and people like John Mroz and his team, actually, they don't exist in Ukraine. And because this was a unique organization, John was a unique personality. I don't know if he ever had enemies, but I would say this is something that both his friends and enemies would easily accept., because it's impossible to contradict.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1924.0,1959.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, well, I mean, corruption is still flourishing and policy-making culture is very low. For very many people in power, the concept of good governance continues to be terra incognita. People in the presidential administration, now they call it office of the president, some people there are, I mean, I don't know how they got there. It's unbelievable to what extent they are not professionals that these jobs demand. Well, a lot of things could have been done if the interest had been present here today in Ukraine. Details to be discussed.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=1959.0,2015.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nSure, I understand. I appreciate it. Kind of threw you a little bit of a curveball there. So, let's talk a little bit about, you mentioned that, after you left the EastWest Institute, after EWI left Ukraine, you founded an NGO with some colleagues and did that for a few years. I wonder, looking back, what do you think was the most significant contribution of the EastWest Institute?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2015.0,2041.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nTo Ukraine?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2041.0,2043.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nTo Ukraine or to the broader region or even to the world.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2043.0,2050.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah. Well, first Ukraine and then the world, okay?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2050.0,2054.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nOkay.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2054.0,2054.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nSo, when the EWI came to Ukraine, the very notion of something like non-state actors influencing policies and politics was not exactly very well known in Ukraine. And I shouldn't say totally unknown, not of course, not yet and not exactly. And either way. I brought some kind of fresh air in terms of how these entities should be operating for the benefits of the country they're in. And, of course, to be in line with their institutes, to their missions. The work on supporting the democratic constituencies, for European constituencies done by the Institute in Ukraine was absolutely unique. And not unique meaning that the Institute was the only one. I'm not saying that. When I'm saying, \"Unique,\" I mean, I could see with my own eyes, I had many, well, colleagues, contacts in different organizations and I could compare. And I was telling myself a couple of times, \"You're lucky to be with these guys because they're unique, and this is something which is so badly needed for the country,\" but you, meaning me, \"You're also learning from many people in this organization,\" and this is true.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2054.0,2155.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So, this has been very much appreciated. The Institute was the first to promote, I would say, some values which have been not values overall, but values. I mean, that should be more relevant and related to the operations by the not NGOs, non-governmental organizations. And I think this is something that was very, very positive for the country.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2155.0,2197.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"We have to recall what kind of time it was. It was June or, okay, a bit earlier, 1997, just a few years after the independence was not exactly won, but the country became independent and it was a post-Soviet country and continues to be in many ways, by the way. And so, an American-European organization, which is very advanced, comes to a post-Soviet space and does things which help this post-Soviet space start slowly but gradually converting into a normal space where democracy and good governance and some values matter. So, this is something which the EWI has done for Ukraine. I'm pretty certain this is not an exaggeration. And I think that overall, the Institute has been doing these similar things for many other regions in the world. So, I'll say it this way.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2197.0,2276.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. Wonderful. Well, this world history archive is not just a resource for researchers, it's also a resource for students. And I wonder if you had any advice for current students of international relations?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2276.0,2291.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nSo, you mean, and the question is international relations students, right?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2291.0,2295.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYes. Yeah. So, sort of current undergraduates who are trying to think about the world, what sort of advice would you give them?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2295.0,2302.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYeah, I would advise students of international relations to never stop in questioning beliefs and some status quos and questioning some very well-rooted statements or conceptions. Very often, these exercise might lead to new discoveries and to new things, to new policies, not necessarily always, but very often. And when it doesn't lead to a new discovery of something real big and innovative, et cetera, then the very exercise is very, very helpful to sharpen one's mind without which being successful in the international arena is very difficult, is almost impossible. And last but not least probably, you know this motto of the EastWest Institute: Make the world a better and safer place. This is exactly what good students of international relations should remember. Not only students, but also actors, because indeed this is our common task. We should be working on that. Otherwise, everybody might be in jeopardy, okay?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2302.0,2403.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nAbsolutely. Well, is there anything else you'd like to add onto this?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2403.0,2411.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/75","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nYou mean the very last one or overall?","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2411.0,2412.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/76","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah, the sort of overall, just kind of a concluding thought or anything you'd like to contribute.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2412.0,2417.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/77","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nI would like to thank you and the EastWest Institute, that kind of retrospectively, for this opportunity for me to be engaged. This was a unique experience and it helped me a lot to understand many things and, I hope, helped me a lot to grow professionally, and my memories about this organization, about these people are excellent and never fading.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2417.0,2451.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/78","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"EMILY WHALEN\n\nYeah. Wonderful. I'm going to pause recording and I'll stay on the chat with you just a little bit. But thank you so much for your time and for your recommendations.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2451.0,2457.0"},{"id":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046/transcript/41954/annotation/79","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"SERGEY MAKSIMENKO\n\nMm-hmm.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://lcdl.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1894/collection_resources/87118/file/176046#t=2457.0,2460.864"}]}]}]}