"More opportunities for self-actualization have materialized in our life today. Unfortunately, we rarely see women in high government offices. This is actually where we are in need of women's inborn qualities - smoothing rough corners and looking for compromise. It is only to be hoped that this situation will gradually be improved if we want to resolve the acute problems facing our country."

Vladimir Putin, Federal President

The Fourth Assembly of the Russian Business Community, Women as New Russia's Leaders. Business and Society, the main official national-scale event to mark the International Women's Day, was held on March 5 and 6, 2003. The Assembly was organized by the Russian Academy of Business, the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the Russian Union of Industrialist's and Entrepreneurs (Employers), and the ASMO-press International Journalists' Association, with support from the Federal President's Administration, the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Federal Assembly, the Moscow Patriarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Confederation of Russian Businesswomen.

The Assembly was attended by representatives of 72 member territories of the Russian Federation, including the Moscow, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Voronezh, Orenburg, Sverdlovsk and Tambov regions, the republics of Bashkortostan and Karelia, and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area.

Representatives of 48 nongovernmental women's organizations and associations from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, deputies of the State Duma and members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly spoke up their views on problems confronting modern society.

The Assembly's discussions focused on problems of women-run businesses and their place in society, and the role of women in forming Russian statehood, business climate, and a civilized social framework in Russia.

The Assembly delegates were addressed by V.I. Matvienkto, Vice Premier of the Federal Government; G.N. Seleznyov, Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly; V.M. Dombrovsky, Vice President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (Employers); I.V. Gorbulina, President of the Russian Academy of Business; G.I. Karelova, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Development; L.I. Shvetsova, First Vice Mayor of Moscow in the Government of Moscow; A.G. Belova, Deputy Federal Minister of Railroads; heads of administrations in the member territories of the Russian Federation; representatives of Russian and international organizations and foundations; managers of major manufacturing enterprises, higher educational institutions, including V.N. Shevchenko, President of the Interregional Public Charity Foundation, the Nation's Health and Intellectuality; D.J. Medman, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Women's Microfinance Network; A.G. Griaznova, Rector of the Academy of Finance under the Federal Government; I.F. Lesnevskaya, General Director of the REN-TV Television Company, PTE, V.N. Shitko, Chaiman of the Association of Fishery Farms; M.M. Kazmina, Vice President of the Russian Lawyers Union, and many other speakers.

On March 6, the second day of the Assembly, broad opportunities for personal contacts socialization and constructive discussion were opened up by subject platforms. The more interesting of them included the roundtable on the various aspects of the business community's social responsibility arranged by the Russian Confederation of Business women, meeting of the Nation's Health section in the Monolith club, and the official reception in Moscow's city hall.

Inaugural presentation was made of the Committee of 20 that brings together famous women leaders of contemporary Russian business who hold key positions in leading Russian companies.

The Assembly ended in the Second Award Ceremony of the Olympia National Prize instituted in recognition of Russian women's role for 2002 in the Hall of Church Cathedrals in the Temple of the Christ the Savior.

This year, the prize was awarded to V.I. Matvienko, Vice Premier of the Federal Government; G.P. Vishnevskaya, a brilliant opera singer and music teacher; popular variety singer A.B. Pugacheva; L.K. Kudelina, Deputy Federal Minister of Defense; G.B. Volchek, art director of the Sovremennik Theater; V.Y. Borovik-Khilchevskaya, President of the Top Secret Media Holding Company, Yelena Masiuk, commentator for the RTR television channel, and several more outstanding Russian women.

The award ceremony was attended by Sergei Kirienko, Joseph Kobzon, Vladislav Tretiak, Stanislav Govorukhin, Anatoly Karpov, Mikhail Barschevsky, Arkady Weiner, Alexander Masliakov, Nikolai Slichenko, Vasily Lanovoi, and Valery Okulov.

The winners were entertained by Dmitry Malikov, Ilze Liepa, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, the Berezka dance company, Piatnitsky Choir, Yeliseev's dance and song company, and Bolshoi Theater and Helicon Theater singers.

The ceremony was attended, to everybody's delight, by Mstislav Rostropobich, the greatest cellist of our time and an outstanding orchestra conductor.

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