The winner!

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in cooperation with UNIC Tashkent, last June, organized its second quiz in Uzbekistan on the United Nations. The winner Renat Kilkeev, 17, visited
Geneva with his mother last December. The first winner in Uzbekistan was a youngster of 15. A young lady of 16 won the quiz organized by UNECE and UNIC Moscow.

Un Special caught up with Renat Kilkeev on his visit to the Palais.

How was the quiz?
Very difficult. I heard that out of the 8000 participants we were only four to give the 21 right answers.

Is it the first time you have participated in this contest? 
For me yes! But my twin brother tried last year and this year also. In fact every year, there are more and more student participating in the quiz.

Is it well known in Uzbekistan?
It has become a national event. All radios, TV channels and newspapers speak about it. And the final stage when the winners are drawn is also a big thing. This year the most well known national pop star participated in the event. Everybody hopes that there will be another one next year.

What are your parents doing?
My mother is an engineer in a factory and my father died a few years ago.

You have one brother?
Yes, he is my twin!

What is he doing?
Like me, he is studying electronics at the university!

And you?
I just started to study telecommunication in an institute.

You won the first prize: a trip to Geneva for you and your mother. What do you think of it? 
For us it is wonderful, because it is the first time we have left Uzbekistan. For me it is also the first time that I have taken a plane. And it is all so unexpected!

What did you enjoy most?
Well! I was very much impressed by how well we were welcomed by important persons in the United Naitons. The Director General, Mr. Petrovsky, was very nice with us. And Mr. Garonna, the Executive Secretary of the UNECE, took us for lunch in such a place that I would never have dreamt of. We also went to Gruyere which was quite an experience.

Did you do any shopping?
No! Everything is so expensive and we don’t have any money.

What do you do at week ends at home? 
Mostly work for my studies and sometimes I go to the cinema.

What was the last film you saw?
Taxi 2 a French comedy!

What are the major concerns of young people you know? 
Mostly we are very much worried about the Afghan war. We are afraid about any type of reactions from extremists against our countries.

Interview by Jean Michel Jakobowicz.