‘St Petersburg gave me friends, culture, and a good education’: Congo’s foreign minister visits St Petersburg University

He recalls his University teachers with great warmth, including Boris Bratus (1918–1986), who headed the Department of Russian for Foreign Students.

The minister always evokes sincere admiration from the University’s students and staff with his recitation of the lyrical introduction to Alexander Pushkin’s poem The Bronze Horseman.

‘When I came to the Soviet Union to study, I did not know a single word of Russian,’ shared Jean-Claude Gakosso. ‘It is symbolic that, although I studied in the Journalism programme, my diploma was handed to me by a Russian language teacher.’ According to Jean-Claude Gakosso, he was the first African foreign minister to deliver a speech in Russian from the podium of the United Nations.

In 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Jean-Claude Gakosso the Pushkin Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to the study and preservation of Russian cultural heritage, as well as to the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of Russian and Congolese cultures.

‘We are of the same university blood,’ said Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, as he welcomed the guest. ‘We have common teachers and acquaintances. For example, my esteemed friend Lyudmila Gromova, Professor Emeritus at St Petersburg University, taught you the history of journalism.’

Nikolay Kropachev noted that since Mr Gakosso’s graduation, the University has become the most popular university among international applicants. Each year, St Petersburg University receives over 21,000 applications from 140 countries during the admissions campaign. ‘Nothing like this is observed at any other higher education institution in the Russian Federation. This gives us the opportunity to select the best,’ the Rector emphasised.

He added that, as a special-status institution in the Russian Federation, St Petersburg University is authorised to conclude direct agreements with governmental agencies of other countries to strengthen educational and scientific cooperation.

The delegation also included Jocelyn-Patrick Mandzela, Honorary President of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation ‘African Centre’ and Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Congo in St Petersburg; Ngualea Ibara, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo; and Jean Makakila, Assistant to the Minister.

‘We have a special honorary title — Ambassador of the Russian University,’ Nikolay Kropachev told the guests. ‘Karin Kneissl currently holds this title. We would like to offer you the opportunity to become an Ambassador of St Petersburg University. This would help promote our University not only in the Republic of the Congo, but throughout the world.’

During the talks, the Minister was invited to chair the Council of the bachelor’s programme in International Journalism at St Petersburg University. He was also presented with a proposal to introduce targeted training at the University for highly qualified specialists that are sought-after on the labour market in the Republic of the Congo, as well as to establish a Centre for Russian Language Studies of St Petersburg University.

‘Your country is very important to the whole world,’ Jean-Claude Gakosso emphasised. ‘We remember the USSR’s contribution to the victory over Hitler’s Germany. You were the first to defeat the troops of Himmler and Goebbels, and we must not forget this. That is why our country’s delegation has accepted the invitation to attend this year’s Victory Day parade on Red Square.’

Jean-Claude Gakosso and his colleagues were invited to participate in international and all-Russian events held annually in St Petersburg, including legal, economic, and cultural forums, as well as the Media in the Modern World forum organised by the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St Petersburg University.

The Congolese delegation was given a tour of the University building on the 1st Line of Vasilievsky Island, which formerly housed the Faculty of Journalism of Leningrad State University and was later transformed into the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication of St Petersburg University.

During a meeting with students and staff of the University, the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs shared his memories of student life, including visits to museums and walks through the city.

This city — Leningrad, Petrograd, St Petersburg — gave me everything: friends, a cultural background, and a good education,’ said Jean-Claude Gakosso. ‘When I arrived in Paris with a diploma from Leningrad State University, I was admitted to the Sorbonne without any problems.

Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Congo

Also attending the meeting were Professor Anatoly Puyu, Director of the Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St Petersburg University; and Konstantin Sukhenko, a fellow student of the Minister and representative of the Governor of St Petersburg in the city’s Legislative Assembly.

Another alumnus from the class of 1983, Valerii Takazov, Professor in the Department of Mass Communications at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), joined the meeting online. In his recently published memoir, he reflected on the student Jean-Claude and their shared experiences studying journalism and living in the same hall of residence.

Current journalism students at the University asked the guest of honour about his literary preferences, while faculty members expressed interest in developing opportunities for St Petersburg University students to do internships and professional placements in Congolese media outlets.