Vladivostok Commemorates 35th Anniversary of Leonid Brezhnev-Gerald Ford Talks

VLADIVOSTOK. November 23. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Last Saturday the executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Joseph Calvaruso arrived in Vladivostok.

Upon arrival in Vladivostok International airport, Mr. Calvaruso was welcomed by Vyacheslav Kushnarev, Head of the Vladivostok Department of International Relations and Tourism. They arranged the programme of Mr. Calvaruso’s visit to the capital of Primorsky Krai.

The events initiated by Vladivostok Administration are timed for the 35th anniversary of the historic meeting between Leonid Brezhnev and Gerald Ford in Vladivostok, press service of Vladivostok Administration reports.

On November 23-24, 1974 Leonid Brezhnev and Gerald Ford held bilateral talks on armament control. As a follow-up the leaders of two world powers signed a historical treaty focused on limiting the two countries’ stocks of ballistic missiles and strategic bombers and thus suspending the arms race.

Joseph Calvaruso, who has more than 30 years of experience in executive positions in the US banking industry, was appointed executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation two years ago. He has already succeeded in preservation and promotion of legacy of Americas 38th President. The programme of the Mr. Calvaruso’s visit to Vladivostok features a number of interesting events. Yesterday, together with the deputy mayor of Vladivostok Alexander Zubritsky they visited Arsenyev Regional Museum, where unique 35-year-old video recordings were shown to them.

Today, November 23, Joseph Calvaruso held a meeting with teachers and students of the Far Eastern National University. The meeting resulted in animated exchange of opinions on the events which occurred 35 years ago and played a key role in the development of the USSR-US relations. Tomorrow the executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation will meet with Vladivostok authorities, take part in the press conference in the building of the USA Consulate General in Vladivostok and hold a round-table meeting “Vladivostok and Russia-US Relations 1974-2009”. The round-table meeting begins at 10 am at the Gorky library (59, Nekrasovskaya Street). Political analysts, representatives of non-profit organizations, reporters are welcome to attend the meeting. In addition, on November 24 at 16.00 Joseph Calvaruso will meet with general public at the Gorky library.