“I do have a dream…”

For the third year the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Information Centre in Tashkent organized a quiz for teenagers. 18’000 youngsters participated in the quiz. The first price was a trip to Geneva for two. This is the interview of the winner Evgeny Chaikovsky, 15 year old, from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

UNS : How did you learn about the UN Quiz?

Evgeny Chaikovsk: In fact, I learned about this Quiz three years ago, but then I felt that I was not ready to participate. This year I definitely decided to participate and since spring I have been impatiently waiting for the information. It is usually announced through the media and all teenagers from 14 till 16 receive the announcement about the Quiz.

What do you think about the quiz? Were the questions difficult ?
The quiz was very interesting. It consisted of 20 questions. The questions were very varied, from the meaning of ”sustainable development” to the number of portable phones in the world.

How did you learn that you are the winner?
In fact, first I became a preliminary winner, that is one of the winners among other 28 winners. We had very high participation, 18,000 and 28 persons who gave all correct answers were chosen. There were very many persons who answered 18 or 17 questions correctly. Those who were among the winners received telephone calls announcing the news. It was in July. I was away and my mother got the news.

(Question to Evgeny’s mother) What was your reaction when you learned about this?
First, I could not believe and I took it as a joke. I told this in the office to my colleagues and we all laughed in a very kind way. Then I told about this to my son and he got more than excited about this. He learned from those who participated in the previous years that this is the way they are first informed.

What happened next ? How did it happen that you, Evgeny, got the 1st price?
The final part is very well organised in Uzbekistan. It is in the form of a lottery. Among the 28, one could not participate because he was already the winner of a previous concourse. A special jury was appointed from the members of diplomatic corps, the minister of education, UNDP officials, well known Uzbek actors, etc.. 27 envelopes were prepared and mixed. One person was appointed to make the “triage au sort”. My envelope was No. 8, and it was the first to be drawn.

What was your reaction ?
I had a very spontaneous reaction, I ran to the scene, I could hardly contain my joy. The UNDP Resident Representative gave me the Special Address signed by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, I was immediately surrounded by journalists and photographers. I will never forget that day. I was overwhelmed by happiness.

You became a celebrity within a day. As we say, that day he woke up as a celebrity. This is what you were feeling that day?
Not that very day. At first I was really overwhelmed. During several days I was not well, perhaps I was too excited. I almost did not go out, hardly spoke, I even became very anxious because of that reaction. When I came to the college where I study, my classmates congratulated me in a most hearted way. Then I came to myself and all became normal. But in fact, a new life has begun for me.

Tell us about yourself. How old are you? Where exactly do you study? What are your favourite subjects?
I am 15 years old. Now I am student of the 2nd grade of a financial collège. I like to study, and I do my utmost to study well, because I want to get a good job after that, and for that it is important to study well. Although, I cannot say that for example mathematics is my favourite subject or I am very gifted in mathematics. To be honest, I always had a dream that I would work in international relations, perhaps become a diplomat and conduct negotiations. This fascinates me and I think that this talent could help to solve many problems in the world.

Are these your plans for the future?
For the moment I feel that I should learn more. I am afraid of severe competition in the international relations departments. We live two of us, together with my mother and I want be able to have good job. I hope that after the financial collège I will manage to find one.

Do you have hobbies?
Yes. I was fond of football but had to stop playing because of my studies. And I am passionate about cars, not only in the brands and different types of cars, but also how questions of road regulations and security are solved in different countries. Here in Switzerland I have been impressed by the many interesting and beautiful cars I have seen and by the way people drive.

How do teenagers live in your country? What problems do you think they have?
I think teenagers in my country have the same problems as in other countries. I cannot say that we have particular problem now. I would rather say that people of my age are now very much concerned how to get to better jobs, and therefore many are studying very hard for that.

If you could address yourself to the Secretary-General, what would you request from him ?
I would ask him to prioritise the problems of ecology and to support all organisations dealing with the problems of ecology. I would also ask him to provide assistance to the countries which are not self-sustainable.

You visited the UNECE and you learned that this is a regional commission of the United Nations directly dealing with assistance to the countries, among which is your country, Uzbekistan. What kind of help, do you think is needed, seen through the eyes of your generation of 15-years-olds?
For my country the most serious problem is the problem of the Aral Sea. This is not only an ecological tragedy. It is very important to help the population living in the region of Aral. They have problems with drinking water, and water-related diseases. All these problems are very painful for each Uzbek. And I would like to appeal the international community to help the people from this region. I think that my country could resolve other problems, but the Aral disaster is very big and we will not manage without help.

You have visited Mrs. Brigita Shmögnerova, the Executive Secretary of the UNECE, the Under-Secretary General. Tell us about this visit.
I was received by Mrs. Brigita Shmögnerova, the Under-Secretary General. I was impressed how simple and communicative a person she is. It was so interesting to talk to her. She told me a lot about the United Nations and asked me many questions about myself, about my country. She is going to Bishkek soon, this is in Kyrgyzstan, my neighbouring country. I wish she would come to Uzbekistan. We are exceptionally hospitable people. I hope she will come soon and will see for herself.

How do you see the main problems in the world now?
Terrorism is now the most dangerous. I see the United Nations as the Organisation, and perhaps the only Organisation, which will be able to do something in this respect. Unfortunately, my country was touched by terrorist acts, I remember February 1998, when the car with the bomb was in the centre of Tashkent, near the Bank and one of the governmental buildings. It was a big shock for us all. Of course, the events of 11 September changed everybody’s awareness, and also the very recent events in the Moscow theatre are still very fresh.

If you could change the world, what would you do ? How would you change it ?
I would try to alleviate poverty. I would try to end illiteracy. I would deal with ecology. I have just mentioned terrorism. And of course, and perhaps the most important, I would stop all wars or try to prevent all conflicts by negotiations and other possible peaceful means.

What is your most dear souvenir from Geneva?
Geneva is a very beautiful city, with gorgeous mountains around. Unfortunately, the fountain did not work and I saw it only in photos. There is a splendid lake and beautiful buildings. I will never forget my talk with the Executive Secretary of the UNECE, the Under-Secretary General, it was a very emotional moment in my visit. The visit of the Palais des Nation is something exceptional. I have a very strong image after the visit of one of the rooms, which is on the 2nd floor, and where many peace negotiations take place. I was impressed by symbolic meaning of the decoration on the walls and the image of the hands of the representatives of different nations symbolising peace. I keep this image in my mind. I can see the negotiations in this room, where diplomats and politicians decide difficult problems. I am convinced that many conflicts could be resolved in a peaceful way. If I could only one day devote myself to that.

I understand that your dream now has a very concrete form : to be in this room and to be able to resolve difficult international issues by peaceful negotiations.
Yes, I think you are right. I just do not dare aiming too high in my dreams. I realise that I must learn so much, so many subjects, so many foreign languages. I really do not dare thinking that this dream may come true.

I wish that your dream will come true. It is very important that you have this dream. You certainly know the famous writer Alexander Grin who wrote to all dreamers that if they do dream and if they do long that their dream comes true, and if they long hard enough the dream certainly comes true. I wish you to long as hard as you can, so that your dream comes true.
Thank you very much for this wish.

Interview by Evelina Rioukhina.