Over the years, the ITAR -Tass Guzman won the title of Generalissimo of subordinates.
About 60 of the nearly 200 heads of State and Government, starring at the Millennium Summit, put their signatures on the photo for Michael Guzman.
Photo: M. On. Guzman ( from the personal archives ).
Condi, as Condoleezza Rice called her close friends, made an impression on Michael Guzman's very charismatic man. With donated notes.
Photo: M. On. Guzman ( from the personal archives ).
From a formal point of view, Mikhail Gusman Solomonovich personally History does not work. But he has the good fortune to himself - literally in the eye - to see how it is done by those who had the savory cup. Russian journalist allowed into the holy of holies, his ... What is it - the power behind the scenes? .
- Familiar with your picture on the wall, Michael Solomonovich. World Areopagus in full.
- The fateful for me, I must say, photo. Nearly 200 Heads of State and Government took off at the Millennium Summit, held in New York at the United Nations in September 2000. Then, at the head of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was. The White House has stayed Bill Clinton. So, when I saw this picture, I thought that the will of fate all these people, fortunately or not, have dropped their heads of state at the turn of the eras. How would then not remembering about them - good or not - in any case, they remain of historical figures. It happened. And it seemed to me very curious to do with these leaders in several interviews. Talk to them first of all, as with ordinary people. Try to make a ... Originally it was a modest idea. The name of a candidate first come to mind immediately. At the time, was led by the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel - intellectual, dissident, a successful playwright, and at the same time, the president of the European countries. Agree to the modern world of politics is extremely rare combination of.
- I - I agree. And Havel shared such enthusiasm?.
- Of course, the desire to implement - a huge distance. But the point is made easier by the fact that he worked in Prague energetic correspondent Igor tassovets Shamshin. He knew both the Havel and his entourage. So he was not particularly difficult to obtain consent for me to meet. The rest was easy. So there was the first interview, so in fact, was born ...
- I do not believe Michael Solomonovich! .
- You know, in case of successful implementation of a cause it always seems that everything went without a hitch, without a hitch. It is only then one will remember that, yes, there were rough, Problems and failures, but oh well, God bless them. To be honest, the first interview was in all respects in the same breath. And we even thought that this can always be. How much of the heavy excitation, we harnessed, it became clear only when engaged in an telekonveyer called ... In this very journey to our hero, as a rule, limited to one for days. I managed to - well, not in time, even if for objective reasons (due to bad weather at the airport, change the schedule at the head of state, etc.) - all good-bye, and wait, again, when you appoint a meeting. I remember the genuine surprise of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Talking to him was to be held in Astana at 11 am. We arrived at nine, and flew back to as early as 3 pm. Nursultan Nazarbayev has called us the information landing. And in the ITAR -Tass I, as usual, the cases on the throat, and I always remember that my job here, and the ...
- And yet you are today - the first Russian journalist, who took the interview in the last two U.S. presidents - from George W. Bush and Barack Obama. I have some idea how to communicate with journalists, our Heads of State. What is ...
- I will start with a meeting with George W. Bush. Our conversation took place six months after the tragedy of September 11, 2001. At first, to be honest, no illusions about the meeting with the 43rd U.S. president I have not fed, almost ten thousand applications from journalists around the world are in the White House to ... Even before his first visit to Moscow in May 2002, only wanting to meet him and ask questions lined up a huge part. Well, we have, among other. Soon, however, it became an important, at least for me, the part.
In the U.S., the decision about who should head the White House to give interviews, press office did not accept myself, and with the National Security Council, and the last word for the Assistant to the President for National Security. Then the position occupied by Condoleeza Rice ( in this position it was in 2001-2005 ). So, the last word - yes or no - we were waiting for it from her.
First, all developed quite in keeping with the hardware logic. One of the main violin played by the head of ITAR-TASS offices in Washington, Andrew Shitov, taking on the technical part of arduous negotiation process. Much assistance was rendered and the diplomats of both countries, first of all embassies in Moscow and Washington. That is to say to such interviews an army of staff working on both sides! .
The fact that our meeting with the first face of the United States to be held in such and such are strictly designated time, I learned in less than two weeks. And at some point, I conceived another, as it seemed to me an interesting idea. And what if in addition to the Bush interview and 41 th U.S. President George W. Bush? . The main thing - very much like to talk to former U.S. first lady and mother of George W. Bush - the gray-haired Barbara Bush, who in her family respectfully styled Silver Fox (Silver Fox). That is the mistress of the Big House. It's also interesting - talk to a woman who is the wife of the president, the president 's mother and the mother of the Governor. The world was not, and still is not, and is unlikely to be the second such woman! . Since his father most of his life was ... He just loves it! .
And then when I went to an interview with Condoleezza Rice, then dared her to show her this, I thought, cool idea, request. Rice, after listening to me, has made a meaningful pause and then said, ... ...
- What kind of facial expression and tone of what she uttered this phrase?.
- Calm, confident and absolutely brooked no objections. Anyway, I made it clear that the era of George W. Bush was. New era of presidency of his son. So any attempt to enter into the fabric of an interview with the 43rd U.S. president talking to his parents and next of kin will be willy-nilly, to cause certain parallels and associations. And it is always fraught with.
Condi, Condoleezza Rice as they call her close friends, impressed me very charismatic man. There is a certain charm, magnetism is a woman who, on the one hand, despite the neyuny age attractive enough. And on the other - is smart and well educated. In it there is the pride of African-American, multiplied by the high self-confidence of a person who has achieved great career heights. Prior to joining the Bush team, from 1993 to 1999, she was almost the youngest provost of Stanford University, one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S.. However, it is also a musical person, which gives it an exquisite charm. Music literacy, it captured almost three years with the. Parents saw its future pianist (... But she eventually chose a political career. By the way, told her to do it, Josef Korbel - the famous pre-war Czech diplomat, father of Madeleine Albright. He and the impact on the further specialization of rice - the study of the Soviet Union.
In general, I must say that I did not have the authority prevails chairs. But when you talk with someone, of course, exceptional, his aura envelops. And the fact that Condoleezza Rice - an uncommon man, I was not and there is no doubt. I would not say that it gave the impression of an ... But Ms. Rice really gave the impression of a strong woman. And, again, a very attractive. I recall in this regard, a phrase that is credited with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He allegedly said: ...
By the way, now that Condoleezza Rice is no longer in power, I can tell you a story. We wanted to give her a souvenir. For a long time puzzled, and finally decided that Rice probably would have appreciated if it was presented to the memory of some musical manuscript. And even better - the original musical notebooks of some of the Russian composer. I turned to Professor Alex Vengerov, the famous Russian collector, with a request to find something suitable. Just a couple of days later he called me and said enthusiastically: ... But my friend Gunther in Germany in the stunning state of the weirdest thing - handwritten music books by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Here is a gift! ... ... I am a small voice, thanked the expert bookseller, realizing that this is practically a museum piece Ms. Rice will never get.
But the idea to give her a note in my soul sunk. And the next day on the Arbat in the usual second-hand bookstore, I found the old notes, ... Moreover, in excellent condition, but still packed in a handsome leather case. And the price does not bite - about one hundred dollars. When I happily left the store, ...
- They did not miss Customs?.
- No, the fact that, according to very strict U.S. rules, all gifts worth more than U.S. $ 50, which are granted high-level officials are subject to inventory and shall be in spetshranilische. Any American, among others, may request once a year to see this special catalog, which is published annually on newsprint, and where all things are made at the cost of over $ 50, donated and handed over by U.S. officials. When I gave Ms. Rice notes, she clasped her hands already! . But once the audience was over, I was immediately approached her assistant and said, ... So, with sincere as possible, the person I proudly said, ... Many years as a family heirloom, they were stored on a bookshelf in our ancestral home. I just took them out and brought to Dr. Rice as a gift. So I can not evaluate this subject. Assistant to the delight knew no bounds. It is well understood that the notes of the ...
- At the White House in the famous Oval Office is caught the eye of something that once characterized your buddy?.
- When we couple with the Bush - Laura and George went into this most famous study of the world, the first thing that caught my eye was the imposing old table. For him, as I explained to President John F. Kennedy liked to work. After his death, and the advent of Lyndon Johnson's desk has been sent to the basement. Fortunately, he was not sawed and thrown in a landfill. When Republican George W. Bush entered the White House, he first took this table from His Majesty the historic ... Still remember the carpet, because it chose a picture on Laura Bush. And standing on the table bust of Winston Churchill. Former British Prime Minister has always been an idol of the Bush. The President also drew my attention to the pictures of his two daughters and particularly mothers.
By the way, our acquaintance was even when he was governor of Texas. Somehow, in just a few months after the election of Bill Clinton's second term, we, together with the CEO of ITAR -TASS Vitaly Ignatenko, located in the capital of Texas, Austin, where they had an audience with the governor. At that time no one thought to who will replace Clinton. That's when we predicted the hospitable owner (and this forecast has been logged and can be found in the governor's archives ) that the next U.S. president will be George W. Bush. At that time, he waved his arms, saying that this is still too early to say. But then, is giving me an interview as head of state, he remembered the episode, admitting that it is we were the first to predict the arrival of his at the White House.
So, in the course of that conversation Governor Bush, speaking about his family, said he wanted to during the winter break to send daughters, together with grandmother Barbara in Moscow. I counted how many times in conversation, he remembered his mother and how much - father. It turned out 9:1 in favor of Barbara. So I'm not surprised to see a beautiful portrait of his mother, who was standing in plain view of the very president's desk in the Oval Office.
- Of course the interview was held with the president here?.
- It must be borne in mind that the White House from the inside - not very roomy building, given that it and the living quarters of the president's family, and historic rooms frequented by tourists, and, finally, working space, which is not much room.
For our conversation was chosen Cartographic room. But to get into it, it was necessary to first pass through the kitchen, dodging all sorts of pots and pans hanging on the walls, even through some strange rooms and facilities.
The very same chart's room got its name because the card is hanging over the fireplace end of the hostilities of World War II. It blows given by the Western and Eastern fronts, arrows attacking forces Zhukov - Rokossovskogo. Conversation with U.S. President on the background of this card in the White House seemed to me very symbolic.
- What is Bush as a man? . I, for example, remembered his promise to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg to return to this festival next year.
- I do not agree with the term ... As a companion he seemed very nice. In my eyes he appeared quite open, laughing, in a good sense of the word, a man who is not alien to the self-irony. I do not want to give a political assessment of his presidency. This is a matter of historians. When later I did a film for its 60th anniversary under the name ...
So, my first interview to remember some unique drive from my buddy. And on the other - in memory were some of the individual, rather cute moments. For example, George Bush and his future wife for many years lived in the provincial town of Midland, literally at arm's length from each other and thus were not familiar. They met and got married, already adults, the established human.
I have before, for example, knew that his whole life, as to the presidency, and during it, and, probably, today, Bush 's family, like the ... Actually, I realized that the cult of the family of these people are not just words. Bush 's family with all its numerous branches, as well as the current family of U.S. President Barack Obama, clearly serves as an excellent example of the Americans have taken the high family values.
- What about the fact that Bush was inclined at times to lay the collar?.
- On this fact he wrote in his memoirs. Besides, I knew about one more episode of his life, which, as I first thought, not painted George W. Bush. This information relates to the period when he spent six years as governor of Texas. As you know, in this state permitted the death penalty. So, during his governorship - and Bush as a senior official had the right to pardon, and he regularly presented the petition sentenced - he never took advantage of this right does not! . But I found out in detail the entire U.S. and the procedure for passing on death row appeals. This is a very long and very complicated legal process. Between the verdict and the moment when the last act of pardon, the governor gets to the table, the average is ten years. Then I realized that by and large W. Bush in his own way was right in refusing to pardon criminals, violent and bloody. He apparently believed that, because during those years when the best lawyers and senior judges of the State of Texas, considering all of these petitions, found no grounds for a pardon or commutation of sentence, he, as governor, can not put himself above the succession of judges .
As for addiction, as you put it, lay the collar, then I asked in this case, ... It turned out that his ... That is, by our standards it actually malopyuschy people, but on the American - who is an alcoholic. Of course, this ... But on the other hand, it was the maximum that he allowed himself. However, much more interesting than others - as he gave up the habit.
A friend brought his family W. Bush in the Bible, a gift of his father. And he twice read this book from beginning to end, though, I think, was well acquainted with it before. And since then, has not taken a single gram. And it's true. Now, wherever he went, always carries with him crates of Coca-Cola. Maybe not the best drink in the world, but without it he does not carry the day.
- What do you have relationships with the protection of the powerful?.
- We have different problems. Their job - to prevent ... However, I am convinced that the protection is good everywhere, and different. There are countries where it is practically no.
I remember an interview with the now deceased President of Austria Thomas Klestil (president of Austria from 1992 to 2004 ). Note that for a neutral country, he was an unusual politician. As the Ambassador of Austria to the United States, actively fought for his country's entry into NATO. Close friends with ... Before the end of his second term, Klestil did not live a little more than a day. It turned out that this here man - and without protection!.
As we approached the presidential palace Hofburg in Vienna, at the front door in the booth proudly sat an elderly uncle with a mustache. I got the impression that these doors, he has sat since time immemorial. Seeing the camera, this sprightly old man wondered aloud: ... ...
But more often meet with very serious protection. It seemed to me that in this regard, all grown-up in China, USA, and, of course, in Israel, in Arab countries. Although the direct relationship between the magnitude and significance of the country, and there the guards, I do not see. For example, I am proud that the first and so far almost the only foreign journalist who interviewed Raul Castro. So, the protection of all disguised as Commander, until the last minute that I did not know exactly where our conversation will be held.
As a result, the meeting was held in the building of the Cuban Parliament. But it is clear this was not immediately. The credit for organizing this interview belongs to my friend, Ambassador to Cuba Mikhail Kamynin. But by agreeing to a meeting, the ambassador made it a condition. ... So ask your two questions, and - EVERYTHING! ... Two way two - I shrugged his shoulders. And I think to myself: I would walk up to the, and then we shall understand.
Incidentally, I note in parenthesis after so many attempts, both Fidel and Raul Castro, any secrecy is understandable. In short, I am sitting in a hotel in Havana, and I expect when I am called to ask these two questions. Finally comes a responsible comrade of Cuban President Administration and delivers me to a building. In any case, I began to explain to everyone you meet, that I could not leave the island of Liberty, not to ask a question about the health of Fidel Castro, did not ask about the heroic assault on the Moncada barracks or do not know the details about how the Cuban Revolution achieved its outstanding success.
Finally, I was approached by a bearded tall handsome guy who, as I understood from the reaction of others, is a very influential person. I repeated to him, and all of their requests. The guy nodded and walked away. I asked one of the Cubans, ... Fifteen minutes later, Alejandro, was the name of his son Commander, returned and told him to follow him down a long corridor.
Soon we found ourselves in a room where in a rocking chair with the same cigar, sitting in a beautiful suit, I was met by the current head of Cuba. We took him forty minutes is a very interesting conversation without cameras. Then there was a long interview to have a camera. At the same time, I thought immodest, my Cuban interlocutor is not really wanted to leave. Apparently, he just missed the normal human communication. Anyway, after the interview, he decided to give me a tour of the building. And because the Cubans save electricity, this survey took place in the shadows. We walked through some dark passages, when we lit the flash of bright light and I saw that we are on the scene of the great hall - the same one where the seat of the Cuban Parliament.
- Which of your interlocutor forced to wait longer than just an interview?.
- When it comes to how long the wait is sometimes necessary to meet with another hero, I remember a funny story that I told people in the know. In February of 1943 in an apartment at the time worked in the Moscow correspondent of the largest American news agency UPI, Henry Shapiro, at three o'clock the phone rang. By the way, Henry Shapiro was quite a legendary journalist, representing UPI in Moscow for almost 40 years ( rekord! ) - from 1934 to 1973. He spent the war in Moscow, many times went to the front, saw the capture of Paulus at Stalingrad. It is associated with the famous Soviet-era phrase, ... He died in 1991 aged 84 years. So, the phone rang, and a deep voice asked from the tube, ... The voice asked again: ... ... But the whole situation was comical in the fact that Shapiro has sent a correspondent to the Kremlin leader to issue more than a year ago!.
As the saying goes, ... Early one morning, on Saturday, in a hotel room in Munich, where I was on a business trip, the phone rang. Call from the Embassy of Libya in Moscow. ... ... At the same moment a voice, which belonged to the Libyan diplomat, declared: ... At the same time I was told that the interview is scheduled for Tuesday morning next week, but then again, I heard a call early Saturday morning. Needless to say, how much effort I and my colleagues took to be in Tripoli at the appointed hour.
to be continued.
Alexander Wizard.
The history of first-person.
Michael Guzman Solomonovich.
First Deputy Director General of ITAR -TASS.
He was born January 23, 1950 in Baku. He graduated from the Azerbaijan Institute of Foreign Languages and Baku Higher Party School.
In the years 1973-1986 - Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Youth Organizations of Azerbaijan SSR.
In the years 1986-1991 - Head of Press and Information Department - Head of Press Center of the USSR Committee of Youth Organizations.
In 1991-1995 - Director of the Directorate General for Information Cooperation olodezhi ...
In 1995-1997 - Vice President of Information and Analytical Agency Ankom -TASS.
In 1997-1999 - head of international cooperation ITAR -TASS.
In January 1999 the Russian Government appointed deputy, and in October 1999 - First Deputy General Director of ITAR -TASS.
The Russian representative in the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication of UNESCO (IPDC), chairman of the Russian Committee for IPDC.
Member of the International Academy of Informatization. Professor, Doctor of Political Science. Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation.
Author of many scenarios of television films and television programs, in particular, the author and presenter of TV program ...
He was awarded the Order ...
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