On March 6 of this year, the Rostov-on-Don City Administration hosted a delegation from Seychelles. The delegates were welcomed by Mr. Yuri Ovchinnikov, First Deputy Head of the Rostov-on-Don City Administration, and Ms. Zinaida Neyarokhina, Chairman of the City Duma and Head of Rostov-on-Don.
International and inter-municipal contacts between Rostov-on-Don and Victoria facilitate the international dialogue. Friendship between these two cities develops rapidly. In recent years, they implemented a number of mutually beneficial projects. Ms. Lydia Charlie and members of the Victoria's delegation were invited to visit Rostov-on-Don in September as honored guests at a colorful and exciting festival dedicated to the city’s birthday.
On March 6, 2024, the Don State Technical University (DSTU) received honorary guests from the Republic of Seychelles. The delegation led by Ms. Lydia Charlie, Acting Mayor of Victoria, was welcomed by Mr. Besarion Meskhi, Rector of DSTU. At the meeting, the participants discussed the areas of cooperation in the field of youth policy, new projects and plans of interaction. Ms. Lydia Charlie also expressed interest in further collaboration.
The Rector of DSTU awarded a certificate of honor to Ms. Svetlana Brousova, participant of the meeting from Seychelles and initiator of one of the projects, veterinarian, founder and president of the SAWI Animal Welfare Fund, for her professionalism, competence, dedicated work with homeless animals and significant contribution to the development of humane principles in veterinary medicine.
It should be recalled that at the request of the Seychelles authorities a team of veterinarians led by Ms. Maya Vakulenko, Associate Professor of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine of DSTU, Candidate of Biological Sciences, sterilized about 500 stray dogs and cats on the Mahe Island in just two weeks, demonstrating an example of a modern approach to solving the problems of uncontrolled reproduction of animals.
Ms. Maria Krylosova, Head of External Relations and Inter-municipal Cooperation Department at the Administration of Rostov-on-Don, who was present at the meeting, emphasized a distinct role of DSTU in establishing friendly relations with the Republic of Seychelles.
The employees of DSTU presented the university to the Seychellois, talked about its activities, gave a tour around the campus. Besides, they walked through the classrooms and laboratories of the Faculties of Agroindustry and Bioengineering and Veterinary Medicine and acquainted the visitors with the history of DSTU and the activities of the “Southern Region – DSTU” Media Park.
The Rostov State University of Economics was visited by the Mayor of Victoria, the capital of the Republic of Seychelles, Ms. Lydia Beryl Charlie.
Ms. Elena Makarenko, Rector of the Rostov State University of Economics, and Ms. Lydia Beryl Charlie, Mayor of Victoria, had a working meeting. They discussed promising areas of cooperation in the fields of education, youth, sports and culture, and shared their experience and innovative approaches to management and mentoring. During a brief tour around the University, Ms. Lydia Beryl Charlie spoke with Russian and international students, professors, university staff and noted their openness and friendliness, as well as the excellent conditions and infrastructure opportunities that the University provides for study, creativity and recreation for all members of its large academic family.
The visit of the Seychelles delegation to Rostov-on-Don was arranged by the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Seychelles in Moscow, Moscow Region and Rostov Region with the kind assistance of the Administration of Rostov-on-Don. In August 2021, the parties signed a twinning agreement between the cities of Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation) and Victoria (Republic of Seychelles), which promotes the development of cooperation between the above cities as well as bilateral relations between Russia and the Republic of Seychelles.