IN THE UNECE WITH POETRY, SINGING AND ...PAINTING, OR,

WHO SAID THAT STATISTICIANS ARE DULL

This is a page taken from the history of the UNECE seen
by one of its staff members – a feuilleton, or almost.
It describes one of the most difficult and perhaps one of
the most remarkable years in the activity of the UNECE in
the newly reconstructed Europe. All events took place
in the last century, the names of the people are
intentionally omitted, although some of them are quickly
recognisable. All is real, or almost, with just one percent
of humour and one percent of the author’s imagination.

EVELINA RIOUKHINA, UNECE

Established 60 years ago as the first Regional Commission of the United Nations, the Economic Commission for Europe has always played a very important role in the region which comprises USA and Canada as well as Europe. The most significant contribution of the Commission after the Second World War was to ensure the dialogue among countries in Europe and to serve as a bridge between East and West during the most difficult years of the cold war. The realities have since significantly changed, changes which were not always smooth. The biggest event after the cold war confrontation came in the late 80s with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the old system in Eastern Europe. The 1990s were thus perhaps the most difficult and the most remarkable years in the activity of the Economic Commission for Europe in a new, “post cold-war”, independent Europe. And I was (and continue to be) privileged to work during these years in the Commission, and in fact to assist with providing technical help to the newly-independent states.

Working in both the Statistical Division and the Environment, Housing and Land Management Division, within UNECE, has had a special meaning and significance for me, as my daily tasks consist of providing assistance to the countries from where I originated.

I never would have thought that I would work in the UNECE. Already in Moscow I had dreamed of working in the United Nations, and I pictured myself in the language services or in political affairs (the area where my family has always worked) or in information (my passion!). Maybe there is an element of chance or destiny in our lives. It was in 1989, the year of destiny for the Soviet Union and its allies, when I came to Geneva. At the last moment I decided to travel by train (difficult to explain why I opted for a three-day train trip as compared with a three-hour non-stop flight) including the symbolic night when the Berlin Wall was demolished. That very night, as I crossed Germany, I left an old world and brought with me the beginnings of a new one. I did not know that I would soon be tied for many years to one of UNECE’s earliest technical assistance projects for this new
Eastern Europe.

And what was totally unbelievable, to a poetic and romantic person like myself, the last thing that I could think of was that I would be hired to do all that work in UNECE thanks to ...poetry. One day I learned about an opening requiring Russian mother tongue, fluent English and French, and secretarial/administrative experience. I applied. It was almost an impossible feat. There were many applicants, strict requirements and highly skilled candidates... Of course, if this competition were to take place now I would have been much better prepared, after all the courses attended within the UN, the career opportunity development, the mobility exercises, etc. At that time all this was far away. Nor could I have imagined that the interview would include a discussion on ...poetry, arts and the theatre.

The selection took place within the Statistical Division. I was asked about statistics. I did not know anything about the subject matter. I admit that having worked within the Statistical Division for many years, I still cannot understand (or almost) the many kinds of statistics, nor the mentality of statisticians. I had heard that they were very dull... I knew I had failed the statistics question. The next was part was on secretarial skills. I would gain points there, having been second in tri-lingual speed typing in the ex-Soviet Union. I knew I could outdo anyone in that area. Then came informal translation, editing and the use and knowledge of languages. The interviewers were from different countries, but of English mother tongue, British and Canadian English. It so happened that at that time I was living in a totally French environment, not having spoken for several years a single word in English, even though I had studied this language as long as I could remember. And suddenly, to a question on whether my knowledge of English would be good enough to translate, edit, and interpret on missions instead of answering something meaningful, I responded by discussing my favourite author and poet Shakespeare, many of whose sonnets and pieces I knew by heart.

I and stood up to recite some of his poetry. I remember the horror in the eyes of these statisticians, I could not understand why they refused to listen to poetry as I had proposed to recite Shakespeare! Why did they not want to listen to poetry. I was so upset. Then one of them spoke, “We are statisticians”. I could not calm down and I responded, “But the question was about the English language, and for me the English language is the universe of Shakespeare, his poetry, his verses, this is my aspiration and this is how I feel it”. There were seconds of silence. I was sure I had failed the interview. I was told that I was free to go. Is was true, then, I mused, that statisticians were really very dull people...

Several days later the phone rang. The Division’s Director (a British national and re - nowned statistician) wanted to meet me. He
had not been present at the interview. I entered his office. It was clear to me – no hope for poetry. A very nice and very smiling gentleman invited me to sit down, looked at me carefully, and said, “You know, statistics is a pretty dull subject. It is good that you know nothing about the topic, and we are not looking for a statistician. I’ve heard about you knowing Shakespeare. I confirmed and wanted to recite some poetry. I remember I proposed the Soliloquy or the 88th Sonnet, up to him to choose. He said “I must admit that I cannot propose the same of neither Tolstoy or Pushkin. You know, statisticians are very dull people. Anyway, you are hired.” I could not believe it! With poetry of Shakespeare in my heart I was selected to work in the UNECE!

The work was fascinating. Very difficult at the beginning. Very quickly I learned about statistics. Every night I was learning, learning and learning about population census, family budget surveys, social statistics and informational technology. The project was mainly devoted to help conduct the first population census in the newly independent states. So many questions, so many secrets at the time. We went on mission (on an average of one week per month) which I fully organized. I was responsible for the administrative and secretarial support as well as informal translations and interpretation which included difficult terminology. It was the most challenging job I’ve ever had.

What I am doing right now in the UNECE is perhaps much more demanding. I am supporting the activities within two one of the most important of the UNECE Committees, in a priority area of work of the Commission. I love my current job. I am surrounded by very nice and talented people of different professions – environment, architecture, economics – not dull statistics. I feel I am needed and I am very happy with the job I am doing and to work in the UNECE.

But those first years, this first experience, this work with statisticians, was like the first love, which as they say, is emotionally the strongest. These emotions will remain with me forever. It was work totally new not only for me, but also for everybody else involved – the Western world and to the newly independent countries. So in some ways I was supporting the pioneers of this technical assistance. It was new for all, new emotions, new experiences, new ways, new subjects for all, Could one imagine 12 years earlier, before the fall of the Berlin wall, conducting a workshop on the use of the GIS for population census data collection, It was a different galaxy. At that time some Ministries of Statistics didn’t even own PC! Calculations were made on the mainframes! What GIS? Today the Statistical Offices are equipped with the latest technologies; but at the time, this was impossible even to imagine!

But I did not suspect at the time that my work would require one of my very hidden talents – singing. I could never have imagined that for approximately a week every month I would sing. No, I am not totally mad, neither am I am not joking. Nor was it mentioned in my post description. I never believed that I would sing while working in the UN, and never in my life that I would sing in the company of several Ministers (once with altogether 13 Ministers of Statistics from different countries!). Who said that statisticians are dull and could only produce their dull data?

How did it start? I think it was after the workshop in Germany, when the host country performed their national folkloric songs. Suddenly all the other nationals decided to show off their talents. These were their own songs, the songs of the newly independent states. Then the Irish experts sang theirs. Then all of a sudden we started remembering familiar songs, and it was a multinational choir of statisticians singing together! Who said that statisticians are dull?!

I have a written evaluation of my work from one of my bosses (who happened to be a Commander of the Order of the British Empire) which is precious to me and perhaps the highest reward that one could even dream of. He wrote: “inter-personal skills of diplomacy and negotiation and ability to win and maintain trust of the countries in the region”. This is also like the first love, it does not happen twice, that’s why I preciously keep this and several others, similar testimonials from officials of several countries. This is for me the most important appraisal in the UNECE. But deep inside myself, I think he didn’t mean “negotiation” but “singing.” Still today I’m sure that this is exactly what so impressed the Western and “transition” Eastern statisticians at the time. Because usually statisticians are very dull and deal only with their dull data...

It was during that time also that many difficult and painful topics could be openly discussed for the first time in the transition economies. So many formerly confidential issues were raised and conditions improved as a result, Among those were the situation of refugees, households budgets, family concerns, even such sensitive issues as poverty, the very existence which had formerly been denied.

There were sad and funny incidents that I will always keep with me. One of them took place during a workshop in Moscow where the leading staff of the Israeli Statistical Office came to lecture to the 12 CIS and three Baltic States, Mongolia volunteered to participate. Interpretation was requested for the Baltic States, Mongolian and Israeli Academics. The workshop started normally, those for whom it was intended, listened to the headphones. Then all of a sudden a specific question was raised (I think it was about how to count the resident and the nominal population). Then one of the Israelis asked – in his mother tongue, which happened to be Russian “Who needs interpretation?” From that moment on all was in Russian, protocol was forgotten. Language was no longer a barrier. The seminar turned into an exchange of professionalism (I think this so impressed me at the time that I described the events in my first published article in UNSpecial in 1997).

Another incident also impressed me, although I am now revealing a secret that we promised not to reveal. After one of the workshops it was decided to organise a swimming race in the sea. Many participants tried their swimming skills. Suddenly, far from the shore one of them became sick and called for help. Immediately another participant rushed to save him and did not leave him for a single moment until he felt better. These were representatives from two countries which at that time were at war with each other. We were impressed, filmed the incident, but promised never to publish the film. It was not the first time during our workshops and seminars that conflicting parties were able to work shoulder-to-shoulder, helping each other.

This for me is also part of the work with UNECE. I have been particularly concerned with participants in countries from the regions still subject to civil wars (of which there were some at the time...). There were many, too many, striking images that will always stay with me. Once a delegation from Tajikistan, who were delayed three days on their way to a workshop on household budgets, finally arrived. They came over to us to apologize that the flights were cancelled, they had civil war at that time, constant alarms, no electricity. Highly educated and talented specialists, they were forced by this lack of electricity to perform their calculations by hand.

They offered us a present (we were not allowed to take presents in the UN) and at first we refused. They opened the package: it was their native bread, made of white wheat that they preciously had carried all these days to give us. Even now, when I remember this episode, I cannot keep back tears. This precious gift, not possible to measure in terms of its monetary value but which was of enormous moral and heartfelt value. We understood that they – or their children – could not have this bread every day. And this was the situation in the part of Europe at the end of the 20thth century!

Statisticians from CIS countries and the UNECE staff
at one of the Seminars before signing

Let me finish on a more cheerful note. The year I left the “dull” statisticians, they organised a social summit in Geneva at UNECE. No dull questions of de facto and de jure populations, but questions of poverty, gender, and all of a sudden – I could not believe my ears – an index of happiness (see UNSpecial, July-August 2000). Such a romantic index, full of hope, full of belief, full of optimism. Who said that statisticians are dull? But – jokes aside – maybe it was a little bit premature then, in 2000, but is becoming more and more realistic. I am sure the day will come, and very soon when the statisticians will measure index of happiness in my countries, once upon a time called “countries in transition” or “newly-independent states”. They will measure not only poverty, but also happiness in this region, in my region. And for me this is the UNECE!

There are many changes, fortunately for the better, thanks to the active involvement of UNECE and the technical assistance it provides. However, there are still painful events, and painful and delicate issues in which UNECE alone can serve as negotiator. I am convinced of that. With this belief I am working here hoping to contribute in a large or small way, or even only with this idea in my heart.

As for poetry, it continues to exist in my heart as well as my soul. I do not know why, but I do not sing anymore, perhaps because I am no longer with the “dull” statisticians in the UNECE, who, as I’ve learnt later, are also good painters, talented musicians, who once inspired me. They probably also inspired my first and dearest boss in the UNECE, a bright researcher in social studies, who, after working for many years in UNECE statistics wrote a book on history (not of the social indicator) but ... painting. This is the subject of another story for UNSpecial).

Please, never believe that statisticians are dull!