On Saturday, Sept. 9, Professor Angela Stent, director of Georgetown’s Center for Eusasian, Russian and Eastern European Studies, participated in a diplomatic dinner party at the Moscow presidential residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Stent secured international attention when she asked the president whether or not he believed Russia to be an energy super-power—his response, which rejected the Cold-War expression, was consequently quoted in various international papers, including The Moscow Times.
The three-hour dinner was the culmination of an annual Russian tour with the international Valdai discussion group, of which Stent has been a member since its founding in 2004.
The group, funded by the Russian organization Ria-Novosty, included primarily western experts on Russian foreign and domestic policy.
In an interview with The Voice, Stent recalled all three meetings as presenting varied personal aspects of the Russian president—the first Valdai meeting coincided with the Beslan school terrorist attack, and Stent recalled President Putin as being “emotional” and concerned.
The tone of this year’s meeting was quite casual, as the final rendezvous was held over dinner in a presidential residence, and the president gave the scholars a “gracious reception.”
Stent described the “nice, four-course meal” with a chuckle, and added that President Putin took pains to point out the positive nature of his relationship with President Bush.
