The Bust Of Leo Tolstoy Inaugurated, Marking 75 Years Of RI's Cultural Relations

DEPOK - The Indonesian government reiterated cultural diplomacy as a strategic force. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon inaugurated The Bust of Leo Tolstoy at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, Wednesday (3/12). This inauguration marks the 75th anniversary of Indonesia's cultural relations "Russia" and a new push for literary cooperation between the two countries.

In his remarks, Fadli called the Tolstoy statue not just a symbol of friendship, but part of Indonesia's commitment to bringing literature to the international stage. He even opened up opportunities for similar contributions from Indonesia. "In the future, we hope to contribute the statue of Chairil Anwar at UI or other public spaces," said Fadli.

The Minister of Education emphasized that literature is a strong pillar of national culture. He called the works of Tolstoy such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina as proof that literature is able to shape a world perspective. "Russian literature is one of the best in the world, along with Indonesian literature," he said.

Fadli also highlighted the increasing number of Indonesian students studying in Russia. He encourages the expansion of cultural cooperation through residential programs, museum development, to joint film production. The relationship between Indonesian and Russian cultures is getting closer. We can work together further in the cultural heritage sector and film co-production," he added.

From the Russian side, HE Lilia Gumerova emphasized the value of education in Tolstoy's works and said that Indonesia and Russia share the same noble values.

The inauguration of the statue was marked by band cutting, reading Russian fairy tales by Minister Fadli, Russian dance and music performances, and a public lecture at the 'Study of LN Tolstoy in Indonesia' by Prof. Mina Elfira.

The event was also attended by the high delegation of the Russian Federation, the leaders of the UI FIB, and the ranks of the Ministry of Culture. Fadli closed the event with the message that culture is a binding force. "Hopefully the relationship between Indonesia and Russia will be stronger and progress together," he said.