The program aims to develop and promote Russian-U.S. cultural links. Each of the three groups of participants will spend six months in Russia. The first group arrived in September 2004 and the second and third groups will come in April and July 2005.
"We came to the conclusion that we should back up the level of interest in Russia," Mr. Aven said commenting on the reasons for the program's launch. According to him, the number of foreigners studying the Russian language and interested in the country considerably reduced in the last ten years. "There are a few people at the U.S. Department of State having a professional command of the Russian language," the Alfa Bank President said. He believes that the Alfa Fellowship program will boost the adaptation of the new American generation of leading professionals forming the U.S. public opinion to the new Russian realia.
According to the banker, the interest in this program is above expectations. The bank attracted no marketing means, however, 85 applications were received in the very beginning. Ten young Americans under 30 interested in Russia and wishing to learn more about this country were selected.
The Alfa Fellowship management formed a consultative council comprising prominent Russian businessmen, politicians and media men and rectors of higher education establishments.
Russian President's advisor Andrei Illarionov believes that the Alfa Fellowship program marks "a new level of Russian business maturity". "This programs shows us the possibilities of the private sector," he said at a RIA Novosti press conference.
