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Extend Scotland Week to Russia, says First Minister



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SCOTLAND Week celebrations of the type which take place in the United States could be extended to other countries including Russia, Alex Salmond said yesterday.
The First Minister raised the possibility in the Scottish Parliament when he was being questioned by MSPs on his recent visit to the US for the Tartan Week celebrations.

SNP back-bencher Christine Grahame cited the millions of Canadians and Australians of Scots descent and asked what plans Mr Salmond had to tap into that potential.

He told her she was right to point out the opportunity to "extend the principle" of Scotland Week.

"Recent discussions with the Russian ambassador indicate substantial enthusiasm in Russia for such an event," he said.

This year's events had broadcast the message that Scotland was "a country on the move" with ambition and a determination to maximise its economic potential, he said.

The First Minister went on to tell MSPs: "Scotland Week has been in the national interest. It is creating new economic opportunities for our businesses.

"But there are other countries and other markets where we must make similar campaigns to promote Scotland."





The full article contains 193 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 16 April 2008 10:02 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Tartan Week , Russia
 
1

Ard Righ,

The Rock Of Edinburgh 17/04/2008 00:13:02
This sound like a very sensible and admirable decision, Russia is far closer with more cultural parallels than Anglo-America.

It would be far more interesting meeting visiting intelligent Russians and Canadians than stupid Americans or thick Australians.
2

subrosa,

17/04/2008 00:40:21
Wasn't this article in last week's papers?
3

Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules the Waves ,

17/04/2008 00:58:47
What a great idea.

Alsowhy not extend it to Australia, China, Japan, Canada etc.

The list is endless.

If we can get arrangements to celebrate this in 52 countries each year then Alex Salmond will never be here.

It gets my vote.
4

Fanling,

Hong Kong 17/04/2008 01:20:29
Interesting idea. Why not?

#4
I thought he was Lithuanian.
5

Beth Boyle,

NY 17/04/2008 01:41:32
Stupid Americans or thick Australians? Hey! That is not nice #1! We aren't all stupid just Bush and Company!
6

Castaway,

17/04/2008 03:52:44
The Lion and the Bear (The Scots - Russian Connection)
http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/scoruss.html
As well as sharing a patron saint, Russia claims to have more Burns clubs than here and teaches his works in school. Last year, a Scottish military tattoo brought 32,000 to Red Square.
http://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/40409/Tsartan-week
7

Navvy,

17/04/2008 03:58:05
I beleive that Russia is the biggest expeort market for Irn Bru - I wonder why
8

The Pict.,

17/04/2008 05:06:10
# 1 As long as P.M. Mr. Harper and his evangelists are running Canada you must include them in the company of Mr. Bush. Mr. Harper was in opposition when he declared that Canada should go into Iraq with his evangelical friend Mr. Bush. Lucky for Canada! Mr Harper represents about 25% of the population because Canada has 4 main parties. Incidentally don't confuse Mr. Harper's party with true Conservatives. They (Harper's Cons) are a combination of the Reform and Alliance parties that changed their name to conservatives when the Progressive conservative party was sold out by Peter Mackay to Harper and friends who dropped the Progressive part. Yes McKay is the Canadian defence minister.
9

Royster,

17/04/2008 05:20:48
What a great way to spend tax-payers money. If there was a Russia week in Galashiels, what would happen? How would Russia gain? Would anybody care or would they be more focussed on things like mortgage payments and footie? Just another way for Alex to get a free meal and some air-miles.
10

BIG EYE,

Paisley 17/04/2008 06:39:32
There has been a Scottish Week in Tallinn the capital of Estonia on a bi annual basis for many years and it has been very successful.

This a very good idea and will help raise Scotland's profile abroad in a positive fashion.

I can understand why unionists would hate this.
11

eric,

17/04/2008 08:00:08
Is this the same Russia that said Britain should ivade Scotland & ireland and take them back !
12

Dr. James Wilkie,

Vienna 17/04/2008 08:08:01
That is the best idea I have heard in a long time. Good for Alex! There are big developments afoot in Europe and, as a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences put it to us in the Diplomatic Academy last week, in view of developments to its east and south, "the only way Russia can go is west".

With the forthcoming advent of the Common European Economic Space (and the three other European "spaces" presently under diplomatic negotiation), the whole face of Europe is going to change. Russia needs our technology (its infrastructure is in a deplorable state) and we need its huge resources. It is time for Scottish entrepreneurs to take advantage of this Wild West situation - only it is now in the East that the land is bright!

The future shape of Europe seems to be emerging slowly, with a community stretching from the Atlantic to the Urals based primarily on economic cooperation as well as the functions and values represented by the 46-member Council of Europe and the 56-member Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (the OSCE is presently the world's largest security institution, with 18 ongoing missions and regular cooperation with NATO).

Inside this framework there will likely be a smaller but more closely integrated core grouped around the original EU member states in Central Europe, where political borders are becoming more and more redundant. Russia would not touch membership of the political EU with a boat-hook, but It is undoubtedly part of the Western cultural sphere. It is now anxious to rebuild its links, not least with a country like Scotland that already has an astonishing number of historic connections there, and it is time to strike while the iron is hot.

13

Royster,

17/04/2008 08:18:28
Wouldn't it better to save the money and give it back to Scots in the form of lower taxation?
14

John S,

17/04/2008 08:29:21
#11 and #15 - Can you tell me how much of the tax payers money will be spent to extend Scotland Week to Russia ?
15

Royster,

17/04/2008 08:46:47
#16 Obviously not enough for a tax cut but there should be no government involvement in this stuff at all - whether Scottish or UK. There is no gain whatsoever to the local economy. It's just a boondoggle.
16

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 17/04/2008 09:15:00
11

Aye right enough lets just use it to help prop up Northern Rock instead.
17

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 17/04/2008 09:17:28
17

Cementing international relations doesnt gain the local economy??? not even through an increace in tourism??
If you have a product to sell doesnt it make sense to advertise it???
18

Steve,

Bo'ness 17/04/2008 11:07:29
Christine Graheme finally says something sensible.
What a great idea. Russia, Australia, NZ, and the far east should be involved.

Obviously anything that raises Scotland's profile abroad, will be HATED by unionists. Well done Alex Salmond.
19

Publius,

London 17/04/2008 12:08:39
#18 Foulkes

Agree your comment about Northern Rock, but when I made it in the office last night I fell into a hole. A colleague pointed out that under the Treasury's bonds-for-nortgages swop scheme HBOS and RBS are going to get far more out of the taxpayer than Northern Rock has. He said HBOS - the biggest mortgage lender - has far more exposure to dodgy US mortgages than the Rock. His point being that HBOS and RBS are Scottish banks run by Scots for Scots.
20

Publius,

London 17/04/2008 12:09:40
What about a Scottish week in China. We could celebrate the Scottish heroes of the Opium Wars.
21

Queen D,

Glasgow 17/04/2008 12:47:23
Mr Gorbachev wore a Crombie coat all the time .
A Scotland week in Russia would be excellent.

So where is the poll SCOTSMAN ?
Or the E- mail??
22

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 17/04/2008 13:24:05
21

Really and how much has the UK government given to RBS and HBOS?? or is this another one of your but it may happen points again??
And dont you think it would be political suicide for Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to even think about using tax payers money to prop up another bank in trouble??
23

Publius,

London 17/04/2008 13:55:40
#21 No money to banks so far, fortunately...

but see BBC reports yesterday. Idea is clear. Bank of England will issue banks with treasury bills in exchange for their UK mortgages and US mortgage/backed securities. This is almost exactly the same as the deal given to the Rock. In either case the banks are dumping their liabilities on the taxpayer.

HBOS is UK's largely provider of mortgages. HBOS and RBS and other big banks hold US securities.

P.S. I still think N Rock should have been left to go bust. It would have encouraged the other banks to behave themselves.
24

Publius,

London 17/04/2008 14:12:00
#21

PPS On another page in today's Scotsman
"Halifax, which lends to a quarter of mortgage borrowers in the UK, raised its rates on two-year fixed and tracker deals by 0.5 per cent if taken out through a broker. Rates for a mortgage taken out with Halifax directly are being raised by an average of 0.35 per cent."

And HBOS is desparate to attract savers. Several accounts with very high rates including a 4-year fixed rate cash ISA at 6.2 per cent (way above bank rate).

This looks like bank that needs money and will be first in the queue to swap some of its paper for treasury bills
25

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 17/04/2008 16:04:45
This is a great idea. There is a book I once read on the Scots in Russia, another on the Scots in Germany, and one on the Scots in Sweden. They have, of course, been all over Europe. There are business opportunities to be had by taking advantage of such historic connections. We should go for it. A great many Swedes and Germans come to Scotland every year and they often take the culture away with them.
26

Royalty,

Zandvoort 17/04/2008 16:10:24
This is a very bad idea.

Encourage more links between Britain & the USA.

There are many Russians here in the Netherlands already.

One word springs to mind.

Unsavoury.
27

SeriouslyAmused,

Ayr 17/04/2008 17:05:09
Publius, why not change your moniker to "Captain Tangent"?
28

pwd,

Hawick 17/04/2008 17:36:16
Let the Brigadoon Road Show be seen everywhere and make us look even dafter to an ever widening audience. The world must see more of Alex in his silly kilt.
29

Publius,

London 17/04/2008 17:37:09
#31 SeriouslyAmused

I sine in as Publius. Would tangent be my cosine?

The Russian week may not be too bad. It might attract some oligarchs. A pal of mine says he once met a Russian oil and gas oligarch. My pal asked the oligarch if he didn't think that privatisation had been very unfair. The oligarch said yes it has, some oligarchs had got much bigger oil companies than he got.

Must go. Do Svidaniya!

30

McX,

17/04/2008 18:19:43
Hopefully, as others have said this will develop further afield. Personally I'd like to see it launched in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, where there is a residual goodwill towards Scotland, further cultural and commercial ties can only benefit us all.
31

BIG EYE,

Paisley 17/04/2008 18:51:17
For those worried about costs, the total support from the Scottish Government to support Scottish Week in Estonia is around £10,000 in almost TEN years!

By far the majority of costs have been provided by private indivduals and companies in both Scotland and Estonia.

Those who want to keep Scotland under the covers are losing every day and it is no coincidence that Scots businesses have done very well in Estonia.
32

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

EH1 17/04/2008 22:59:28
If closer ties with Russia assists in pi**ing off The White House then it gets the vote of this dual national Yankeedoodle / Brit!
33

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta; . CA.....a place in the Sun 17/04/2008 23:50:41
Extend Scotland Week to Russia, says First Minister
----------------------------------

Salmond is the GOLD winner of Olympics, when it comes to promoting Salmond.

Do the majority of the Scots who DID NOT vote for this dude , care a rat's ass about his political boon doggles.

I think not dudes

GC
34

Fanling,

Hong Kong 18/04/2008 00:19:54
#37
Dud, as you live in a parallel universe, may I remind you that ALL frontline politicians promote themselves. It goes with the job description.

What YOU think in your typically vapid way, is of no relevance whatsoever to the vast majority of Scots (myself included), whether or not they voted for the latest object of irrational hate in your useless idle life.

Since your comprehensive knowledge of Scotland rates a regular zero minus (and sinking), I suggest you concentrate on that pantomime of liars that is the election campaign in the US (starting with your adored sniper-shot-at-not Hillary) and leave Scotland alone to sort its own affairs out, as it most certainly will.

Until the day you have something sensible to contribute to these boards generally, get a haircut and a job, Dud.
35

Fanling,

Hong Kong 18/04/2008 00:54:59
#4 Spook
Thanks for the gen on Vlad. I knew he'd served in the Russian navy, but got sidetracked by his many Lithuanian business connections, not to mention his slow destruction of HoM FC.
36

acanthus,

Moscow 22/04/2008 10:36:06
This is a great idea, i live and work in Moscow and anything that Scotland could do to raise it's profile, especially for the business and tourism sector would bring business to the country.
Some Scots i found out about while here:
Christopher Galloway...build the famous Spasskoye Tower of the Kremlin.
Samuel Grieg...modernised the Navy under Peter the Great (who incidentally had a Scottish grandmother by default)
Charles Cameron..Catherine the Great's favourite architect who built much of Tsarskoye Tselo and the palace (along with 140 Scotttish masons).
Hastie and Menelaws, the first responsible for all town planning in 'modern russia' the second builder of many public buildings here.
Elphinstone..Real Admiral in the Russian Navy and favourite of Catherine the Great.
Also the 1500 Scots who served under Ivan the Terrible and were allowed to settle here in 1540s (i think).
James Bruce (the most learned man in Russia). Field Marshal and principal advisor to Peter the Great.
Henry Farquharson, founder of the School of Mathematics and Navigation...
Just a few...there are hundreds more...
37

acanthus,

Moscow 22/04/2008 10:39:45
I am building a web site with profiles of just a few that i have found, i can post here the address if anyone is interested..should be ready in a couple of weeks!
38

acanthus,

Moscow 22/04/2008 10:55:46
A good and accurate post by Dr Wilkie. The opportunities here for companies are huge, especially for engineers, property developers, finance, civil engineering (the outlined works here including road building are 'epic' in scale), technology and even in farming and agriculture.
As for the post by 'Royalty' in the Netherlands calling Russian unsavoury, i would ask if he has ever been here and met Russians? I think not, otherwise he would not have posted such a ridiculous comment.

 

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