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| |  Online Event with Ms. Michelle Logsdon for FLEX students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan December 4, 2003 Katy Pearce moderator: The online event will begin shortly. Thank you. If your login name is NOT your full name and your country of origin, please log out and change it. In this online event you will be allowed to submit questions to the speaker. Please be aware that many students are participating and not all questions will be able to be answered. Thank you. Katy Pearce moderator: Welcome students and observers. Students, if you want to ask Ms. Logsdon a question, click on the "Ask" button. Please ask one question and wait at least 3 minutes before asking another. Please do not ask your question more than once. Katy Pearce, the moderator, will read your question and give it to Ms. Logsdon. Please be aware that many students are participating and not all questions will be able to be answered. Thank you. While Ms. Logsdon is typing, please write more questions. Students were asked to prepare 5 questions ahead of time, however, students please feel free to ask questions that are different from the ones which you have prepared. When the chat is finished, you must complete the evaluation form. The link to the evaluation form is above this chat window. And now, to present Ms. Michelle Logsdon. Ms. Logsdon is Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of European Affairs. Michelle Logsdon became Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of European Affairs in August 2002, and currently handles the portfolio for Eurasia, the Nordics and the Baltics. She has had extensive international experiences, as you have learned from your homework assignments. She is going to answer students' questions about the future of US-Central Asian Relations, as well as questions about her work at the State Department, her professional experiences and the overall impact of exchange programs. Fortunate for all of us, she is willing to speak to Future Leaders Exchange students from Central Asia. Again, welcome all students and adults, on behalf the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs we appreciate your enthusiasm for this event. Thanks for joining us. Students, you may begin asking questions. To begin, Ms. Logsdon, many of the students are curious as to your duties and responsibilities as Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of European Affairs, as well as how you came to hold this position. Michelle Logsdon: Hi Katy, and thanks. Welcome to all the students out there. I'm just getting used to this keyboard etc., so I apologize for my bad typing and my slowness. As you read, I'm a foreign service officer, and I came to this position in Washington after being overseas for many years. I decided to work in Europe and Eurasia because of my interest in the area--I served once as Public Affairs Officer in Kazakhstan and loved it. I was eager to again work with the region, after being away for three years in Bangkok. Serdar Yoldashev from Turkmenistan: You have been in alot of countries what is your favorite country? Michelle Logsdon: I liked them all for different reasons. All were very different, but fascinating. I enjoyed the culture and food in Bangkok; the people and countryside in Kazakhstan, the history and "uniqueness of Pakistan. Feruza Alimbaeva from Kyrgyzstan: What are the major functions of Deputy Director? Michelle Logsdon: A deputy director is responsible for managing and coordinating policy for the region regarding our public diplomacy. We also handle budget guidance, personnel issues, and coordination among different offices to support our public affairs offices in the Embassies. I am responsible for more than 20 countries. Akbarjon Saidov from Tajikistan: As an ambassador of the U.S, one of your goals is to promote greater exchange of information, and values of democratical society. What are the personal feelings of your cultural experience while serving overseas? What is you point of view to the statement "Cultural Exchange is the best way in achievement of Mutual Understanding"? Michelle Logsdon: A very thoughtful question, thanks. I think cultural exchange is extremely important to promote understanding between the "real people" of countries. We spend a lot of time on government to government discussions, and that's good too, but I do believe that our programs to promote understanding build lasting ties that make a difference. Elmira Bahteeva from Uzbekistan: Ms. Logsdon, almost everybody in the world has his dreams and purposes in life. What is your purpose in the life and what is your biggest dream? Michelle Logsdon: Thanks Elmira. I do have dreams, but they are the kind of dreams we all have. My dreams include wanting to feel like I made a difference, that I did something to make the day better than it started out. I have a daughter, who is 6, and my dream is for her to look back on my life and say "wow, look what mom did." And I hope she feels the same way about herself Dostanova Dina from Kazakhstan: What is fascinating for you in Central Asian countries? Michelle Logsdon: I think Central Asian states are so culturally and ethnically rich--much more diverse than I expected when I first went there. Somehow I expected the people to be more homogeneous, but in fact, at least in Kazakhstan, it was a very multi-ethnic, tolerant society. One similar to the US. I also loved Monte. Zaytuna Amirzoda from Tajikistan: Ms. Logsdon, if you were in our age would you like to be an exchange student? Michelle Logsdon: Absolutely. I am very impressed by FLEX students for their sheer bravery. I was not so brave when I was a high school student. I couldn't imagine leaving for a whole year--my family etc. Now I know how much I missed, and I wish I had had the experience you're having now. You will be way ahead of me by the time you reach my age! Alina Beslekoyeva from Turkmenistan: What do you think, people are different in other countries? Michelle Logsdon: Yes, people are different in different countries, but just as people are different in the same country. I think you can be shaped by the culture, country, history and family to be a certain type of person, but I think in each country, there are different types of people. And you will find people here who remind you of people at home... Aliya Suranova Kyrgyzstan: From your biography I learned that you worked in different parts of the world with different missions. Among all of these you've done which one do you think is the most important for the global security or peace? Michelle Logsdon: Aliya, I'm not sure it's easy for me to judge. I think when I worked in Pakistan, we were working hard to improve the communication between India and Pakistan--perhaps that is a good example. Konstantin Balakirev from Kazakhstan: Ms. Logsdon, what was your hardest international mission? Michelle Logsdon: Konstantin: It depends upon how you define "hard." Perhaps my hardest international mission is to communicate effectively with foreign audiences about the US -- why we do what we do, and how we make decisions. There is a lot of misunderstanding out there and people have a lot of "preconceived notions" about what the US is and is not. You know, many people in the world feel like they know exactly what the US is, because they see a lot about the US in TV or movies. But I think the US is a very complex country and culture, and it is a difficult mission to adequately explain that to foreign audiences. Asel Usupkojoeva from Kyrgyzstan: Hello, why did you choose to be a Deputy Director of Euroasian countries, as I know that this kind of work make you to be far away from your family? Michelle Logsdon: Thanks Asel--my family and I are always together, at least to live. My husband is also in the foreign service, and my daughter was born while I served in Kazakhstan (although I came home to deliver her.) I do travel, but I try to limit my time away from home to 10 days at a time. Konstantin Balakirev from Kazakhstan: Now, while I'm in the USA I find out that people here know more about USA but almost nothing about the rest of the world. The most popular source of information are movies... Which is usually based on stereotypes... does it makes difficulties in international relationships between USA society and other countries society? What do you do to change it? Michelle Logsdon: Konstantin: you are so right. People do often judge each other based on stereotypes, and the US is no different from other countries in that. I would hope that one thing we can do is to set all of you FLEXers loose in our country to help us educate those with whom you come into contact about your countries. And I hope your host families and friends will be soon making trips out to Central Asia to see it for themselves. Alina Beslekoyeva from Turkmenistan: What do you think about creating more great programs like FLEX all over the world? Michelle Logsdon: Great idea Alina! In fact, there is a bunch of money being set aside right now to reach out to high school age students from the Muslim world, in our ongoing effort to build bridges between the US and countries where Islam is practiced. I wish we had enough money to do it everywhere. Akbarjon Saidov from Tajikistan: What are the reasons of your decision to serve as a Public Affairs Officer in Eurasian countries? Was that an influence from someone's side and how did your experience and vision of life change after that? Michelle Logsdon: Well Akbarjon, believe it or not, my University degree was in International Relations and Soviet Studies. When I was at University, Brezhnev was still in power... (Yes, this dates me!) And I even wrote a paper about the Central Asian republics of the USSR. Can't remember exactly what I said, but I knew when I saw "Almaty" on the "bid list" for job openings I wanted to go. It was a great decision. Katy Pearce: Ms. Logsdon, the students read an article on the definition of Public Diplomacy for their homework. Many of them have asked about your opinion on how they can become "Public Diplomats." Michelle Logsdon: Public Diplomacy is the way a government can communicate with the people of another country. But it also draws in the people of each country in ways that builds bridges between two nations. The idea is to make it very hard for there to be serious misunderstandings by opening up so many channels of communication that the ties bind us together. It also means that we work hard to use non-traditional means of diplomacy--culture, art, academics, language, books, film, you name it. And of course, people to people exchanges, including by internet. You are public diplomats for your countries. Every time you explain a tradition to an American, invite them to eat your national food, listen to your music, you share a piece of your country and bring a deeper understanding to my compatriots. How do you do it? Participate in school cultural events, do a speech at the Lions club, get together with the girl scouts, share pictures. Whatever brings our two countries closer together. Jasur Kaharov from Uzbekistan: While studying homework assignments, I read some truth about my own country (torture, human rights) that I possibly couldn't read at home. How can we/you inform our people about that? Michelle Logsdon: and to information. That's a right we stand by and protect, and one Americans feel strongly about. Freedom of information doesn't make a good government weaker, it makes it stronger. That's why we think it important to support freedom of the press, freedom in internet, and freedoms of all kinds. You can work to support freedom of the press and of information by never settling for less. If each individual believes that to be an important part of life, you will be able to change things. Jahan Memmeyeva from Turkmenistan: Why does the U.S. fund an exchange program from Central Asia, but not other countries? Michelle Logsdon: Jahan, I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that we don't fund exchanges in other countries, we do. We have exchanges in almost every country where we have diplomatic relations. We just have many different kind of exchanges. FLEX is something special, however, we set up for the Former Soviet Union in 1992. Manzila Ibragimova from Uzbekistan: Do you have plans about creating exchange programs that will send American students to Central Asia? Michelle Logsdon: our Fulbright program, which is targeted at older students in university. Margarita Savchenko from Kyrgyzstan: More than 12 years passed since the breakdown of the USSR, but, in your opinion, has any Central Asian government already became truly democratic? Michelle Logsdon: Margarita, I think the countries of Central Asia are at different stages in their democratic development. I would like to see all of them progressing at top speed, but it's not as easy as we'd like it to be. It requires not only changing habits of government, of leaders, but also of the public. The public has to be willing to require of its leaders the habits of democratic government, and that development will happen in various stages. When I was in Central Asia in the mid 90's, Tajikistan was still having a civil war, for example, and now it is well on the path towards democratic development. I'd say that's good progress, and I know I hope that it will continue on that path. Ilmira Sufieva from Uzbekistan: Ms Logsdon there is a question that everyone asked me when I told people that I passed FLEX, they said to me: "Why US doing this support for other countries? Is there any profit for US?" I said that as I know US does not get anything from this, but I want to hear what you will say on this statement? Michelle Logsdon: Ilmira--of course we get something from this. Congress wouldn't fund it if we didn't. We are helping to build ties with you, with your country. I am hoping that you will have a good experience here, and hoping that all of you will have a good experience here. I am hoping that you will go home and tell people what you saw, what you learned, what you felt. Not only the good things, but the bad things, and the weird things, and the crazy things. And everything that makes us REAL to your family, your friends and your colleagues. I hope you will carry that with you throughout your life, and that you will come back again and again. This will help us to build a better relationship with your countries. That's what we get. Akbarjon Saidov from Tajikistan: With the growing decrease in popularity of the Muslim religion after 9/11 and suicide bombings, American's seem to have created a dislike towards all Muslims whether they've ever been to the eastern countries or not. It almost seems like American's believe that all Muslims, given the chance, would blow up a plain or something. Being Muslim myself I know that is not true. With your experiences in other countries what would be your advice on how to change this look on the Muslim religion. Michelle Logsdon: Akbarjon, it is the saddest thing for me to know as well, since I've lived in several Muslim countries and know many people who follow the tenets of Islam. I am pleased that after 9-11 my government leaders, local and national, made it very plain that we would not tolerate any discrimination or "retaliation" against Muslims in America--there were many examples of people standing in solidarity with Muslims in their communities after 9/11. But you are right, there are people who don't understand that real Islam is not about terrorism. That's something that needs to be understood better. I hope that Muslims in America are working within their communities to let their neighbors know what Islam really is. For you, and Muslims of other nations, one way is to vehemently oppose terrorist tactics for what they are--terrorism. And to work to help others understand what Islam is really all about. Galina Suhodko from Uzbekistan: what are the specific ways for us exchange students to help our countries to develop Michelle Logsdon: Galina, if you feel there are things in your community, in your country that you would like to change, you should start small, in your local community. Don't feel you have to go home and "change the world." You can volunteer, help an orphanage, help out a school, do something to make one other person's life easier. Many FLEX students go home and start small associations, organizations, NGOs even, to work with underprivileged children, or women, or older people in homes. They help fix up schools, build ramps for the disabled, collect food for the poor, bring out the vote during an election. There are many ways for you to contribute to your country, you just need to figure out what is best for you. Murod Mamatov from Uzbekistan: I have seen a lot of rude attitude towards human rights in Uzbekistan. After we back home, should we do something to prevent it and develop democracy? Even if some times our projects and ideas are not exactly the same as our government's. Michelle Logsdon: Murod, you can first live as an example--support human rights in small ways in your community and in your home. You will find that if you work in small ways, on local projects, teaching others to respect human rights, eventually you will create a wave that will get bigger and bigger. People will soon expect that their rights should be respected, and that is the beginning of change. But don't expect change to happen all at once. Unfortunately change takes time, and comes in bits and pieces. It can be frustrating, but try to maintain your commitment and always maintain your sense of self. And a sense of humor and perspective about life. Otabek Atadjanov from Uzbekistan: Different countries have deferent traditions and culture. Could they obstacle the development of public diplomacy? Michelle Logsdon: Otabek, I don't know why tradition and culture would get in the way of public diplomacy. Perhaps I don't understand your question well enough, and I apologize if that's true. But I do think that any country can benefit from trying to make its culture, society and people better understood abroad. That is the basis of public diplomacy--to increase understanding. I would think that any government would want other countries to understand it. Jasur Kaharov from Uzbekistan: I knew that Americans live in democratic society. But I didn't realized that it is such high-level democracy. How can we encourage our people to live as people live in America? Michelle Logsdon: Jasur, I'm flattered that you feel we are in a high-level democracy. We have had the advantage of working on it for over 225 years, however, so it's taken us quite a long while to get where we are. I don't think if I were you, though, I would go home and shout "let's all live like they do in America!" Only because you are from a different culture and a different society. I do want you to feel committed to democracy, and I'm glad you feel strongly about it. You can help move your society towards democracy by changing yourself, your family, and moving on to talking about what democracy means for you and your friends and colleagues. That's how I would approach it, if I were you. Diana Mamatova from Kyrgyzstan: How do you think the relationship between Central Asia and the United States changed since September 11 and the war in Afghanistan? Michelle Logsdon: Diana: excellent question. I believe the US has become closer to the nations of Central Asia due to our cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Most of the countries of the region have been very supportive of our efforts, beginning with the war in Afghanistan, but also in sharing information about possible terrorist acts, weapons moving across borders, and in other areas. This has made the bond between the US and the countries in Central Asia much stronger. We are very grateful to our friends in Central Asia for their support in the fight to prevent terror from happening again. Amangeldi Jumanaliev from Kyrgyzstan: Do you think that there are still challenges for American democracy, what they are and how do Americans try to solve them? Michelle Logsdon: Between different interests and different points of view. We need to continue to fight against any kind of discrimination--and never become complacent about our democracy. It's something we need to practice every day, or we will become lazy about it and take it for granted. There is a big debate in the US right now about the rights of citizens, and how to balance individual rights and the need for security in the fight against terrorism. It's a serious debate and one that will continue as our nation struggles with the new realities we face. Asel Baltabayeva from Kazakhstan: Would you like your kids to become exchange student? Michelle Logsdon: Asel, I have one daughter who is 6, and although I can't bear the thought of not seeing her every day, I would DEFINITELY want her to be an exchange student. Aliya Suranova Kyrgyzstan: As I read the "What The World Thinks in 2002" article, I saw that many nations still "dislike" the U.S. Why do you think this situation in the world get more and more serious (increases, maybe) each year? What's "wrong" with the USA? Michelle Logsdon: Aliya, this is an issue I struggle with every day, and if I had the answer, I would probably be Secretary of State right now! I think that American's often project an image of being very sure about themselves, and sometimes that is misunderstood overseas. Some take it as arrogance, some are bothered by the fact that we seem to want to 'go it alone.' In my work, we try to communicate that we are very interested in working with other nations, that allies are very important to us and our foreign policy, and that we are listening. This is just a start, but I hope that it will help to lead us to a better relationship with others. Olga kononova from kyrgyzstan: could you please tell some ways how to promote community services in our countries among the people, living there. Michelle Logsdon: Olga--you will have lots of chances to promote community service when you return to lovely Kyrgyzstan. There is an active FLEX alumni association in Kyrgyzstan, who will want you to be involved and active in helping them to make a difference. You can apply for small grants to help you do community service projects as well. Katy Pearce moderator: Students, we only have 5 more minutes. Please do not submit any more questions. Thank you. We will draw from questions which have already been submitted. Michelle Logsdon: Gang--for some reason I'm not seeing your questions, so I will improvise! I spent a good deal of time traveling around Kazakhstan, and was very impressed by the curiosity of the people, and of the friendliness of the people. Kyrgyzstan was just a short drive away from Almaty, and I was able to visit there as well. Truly amazing mountain views--I spent a lot of time hiking, snowshoeing and just enjoying the fresh air. Jahan Memmeyeva from Turkmenistan: What do you think about the rights of women in Central Asia? Michelle Logsdon: Jahan, I think it varies from country to country. You could probably tell me a lot about your country that I don't know. But I did work with women's organizations when I was in Kazakhstan, and they were very active. My impression was that women are very well integrated in certain parts of society, in certain jobs, but did not have as big an impact in other areas. In some ways, many women I met were not/not interesting in "feminism" or being known to support women's issues, because I think they thought it was somehow not feminine. But there were strong feelings about women having equal rights, and I worked hard with these organizations to put them in touch with women's organizations from the US to work together. Michelle Logsdon: Ladies and Gentlemen, it's getting late in Washington, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to sign off here. I really enjoy doing these kind of chats, and I'm so flattered that you all took the time to come and talk with me tonight. Katy Pearce moderator: Based on the responses, I think that everyone appreciates this. Thank you Ms. Logsdon. The students, placement organizations, ECA alumni, host families, host educators, and all others greatly appreciate this time that you have given us. Thank you Ms. Logsdon and students. We appreciate your time. We have run out of time. We hope that you enjoyed this online event and that you have learned something new about the relationship between the United States and the countries of Central Asia and the impact that exchange programs such as FLEX have on Central Asian communities as well as the future relationship between these countries. A transcript of this online event will be on this website soon. Please fill out the evaluation form in order for us to continue hosting events such as this in the best way possible. Thank you so much. Students, please click on the logout button and fill out the evaluation form that is on the left of your screen. Thank you. Michelle Logsdon: I'm sorry we're having a few technical problems, but it hasn't stopped us from getting to know each other better. I would have liked to have asked you some questions about yourselves, but perhaps next time we can do more of that. I wish you all the best--have a great holiday season with your host families, and be safe. Hope to meet you sometime in the future. All the best! And thanks to Katy for setting this all up. Cheers!  | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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