Russian Tobacco Control Forum Draws International Participation
The Second Russian Health or Tobacco Forum was held May 25–26 in Moscow. The meeting was organized by the State Duma of the Russian Federation and supported by the American Russian Cancer Alliance (ARCA) and NCI, among others. It showcased progress made in tobacco control since the Duma ratified the WHO Framework Convention Against Tobacco in 2008 and brought together governmental, academic, and nongovernmental entities to further the national strategy on tobacco control.
U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation John Beyrle participated in the opening ceremony, and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD), majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, provided a video greeting and message to the Forum. ARCA was represented by its executive director, Sophia Michaelson, and by Dr. Paul Engstrom of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, an ARCA partner. Dr. Joe Harford, director of the Office of International Affairs, represented NCI.
Forum participants heard talks on the U.S. experience in tobacco control, as well as those of France, India, and Poland. Many Russian speakers discussed various aspects of the ongoing anti-tobacco activities in Russia, and awards were given to Russian journalists for their anti-tobacco stories in the press. At the conclusion of the meeting a series of recommendations were endorsed, including a significant increase in the price of cigarettes, an emphasis on smoking cessation, establishment of smoke-free zones in all public places, and additional tobacco control legislation that would decrease the availability of cigarettes, especially to minors.
