One of the highlights of the departing year for Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, was his participation in the official launch and inaugural forum of Eurasia Policy Council in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in November.
Hertfordshire Press is the only British publishing house dedicated to translated literature from the post-Soviet region, with a strong focus on Central Asia.
The event was organized with the participation of Lord Qurban Hussain, Prof. Shabnam Delfani, and Raza Syed, who hosted the roundtable and forum, and set a high level of discussion from its very beginning.
It was a lively conversation in a businesslike atmosphere, with relevant questions and a rare sense that the dialogue here truly impacts the future.
Marat Akhmedjanov says about that event: “In my speech, I spoke about the Eurasian dialogue, the role of Hertfordshire Press in promoting culture and humanitarian ties, and about trust as a key resource in international processes. For me, it wasn’t a formal appearance at the microphone, but an opportunity to be heard on one of the UK’s most significant political platforms.
“Such meetings are valuable, above all, for the people involved. Experts, diplomats, and analysts from different countries, with diverse perspectives, but a shared understanding that the future is built through conversation, respect, and collaboration.
“On that day, the House of Lords was a space of meaning, not protocol.”
