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culture International

excellent journalists who taught me the basics,
and some continue to help me even today.

Many people have a certain narrow conception
of journalists, and that’s a pity. Sometimes you
even meet people who ask, “How come you are
only a journalist?” Yet, today most journalists
have university degrees and are highly trained
professionals, and it’s really intellectually
stimulating to be surrounded by such many-
talented persons.

Why Diva?
Diva is an international name, and it was my
best friend who gave me the name.

Everybody has a story of arriving in Geneva.
Tell us your story.
Another pure coincidence. I got an opportunity
to work in the World Health Organisation as a
finance officer. I am trained as an economist/ When it comes to my books it’s another a different reason. Was there anything in “I have
in the shade. I am fortunate to be one of her finance person from the Norwegian School of coincidence. I had not finished my PhD thesis, common between those two situations? painted ever
friends, and also one of her admirers, and Economics & Business Administration (NHH), so, one day I decided that it might be time to Well, in brief, one can say that there are many since. I have
my awareness of her humility inspired me to and I also graduated in social sciences from finish it. The director of my thesis, my mentor, similarities between our current time and the taken part in
introduce her from a different angle. the Institut Catholique de Paris. had passed away, so, instead of the economic 1930s leading up to the Second World War. exhibitions,
and social sciences, I ventured into political Some say that history tends to repeat itself.
Meet with the editor-in-chief of the magazine. How do you see Geneva through the years, science and ended up doing research about Let’s hope this will not be the case. However, followed
Let us travel with her through her story, her and in particular the role of the magazine in the League of Nations. Instead of a PhD thesis, I would say that there are many lessons to some classes,
vision, her interviews, her books, and perhaps ever-changing Geneva? I ended up writing a book. Then, the director be learned from that period and perhaps we and I
“Geneva is a she will give us the key to her secret garden Geneva is a not a major metropolis, but it has of the library, Mr Pierre Pelou, suggested that should encourage people to read and reread continue to
not a major – her paintings. a unique spirit. It has the advantages of being I should “dust off” Nansen, so, I started to history. improve my
metropolis, a relatively small city with the feel of a major look into his life, the political situation after skills –
the Frist World War, the refugee situation etc. You were confined in France for several
but it has a First of all, tell us about the magazine. As we cosmopolitan one. I would say it’s a perfect John Fox was working with me at that time, months. Is that when you started to paint, or, let’s say,
unique spirit. know, you created this magazine. How did mix. Geneva is a unique place when it comes to and we signed the book together. It was then or does you been painting go back to earlier I hope I do.”
diplomacy and international relations and an
It has the your decision to create it come about? followed by the book about Sean Lester. Since years? And how did it happen that you started
First of all, thank you for the honor you do interesting place to be simply because there are
advantages me. I don’t pretend to be an accomplished so many interesting things happening, be they then I have pursued my research. My colleague painting?
of being a journalist but rather an eternal apprentice. I in the field of health, human rights, economy Katya and I have just finished another one In sequential order, it goes like this. I started
relatively fell into journalism by accident, I love it, but and finance, international negotiations or that has taken us three years of research, and to paint, then Diva came along, and then the
small city to say that I am on the same level as everybody whatever. I do not think anyone can change we hope that the book will be published this book writing. Painting was something I had
year. It was delayed because of the current always wanted to try, so, one day, once more
with the feel else would be pretentious. Geneva apart from the people who live here. pandemic situation. by pure coincidence, I got the chance to try
They are the ones contributing to make the
of a major Life is filled with coincidences, and Diva is city what it is today – open, accessible… out oil painting. The following day I went out
cosmopolitan one of them. When I was working in WHO The period you write about, in your book and got canvas, brushes and tubes of oil paint.
one.” as a finance officer, a colleague journalist Your books are impressive. Where do you get about Sean Lester, describes the dramatic I have painted ever since. I have taken part
pointed out that there was no magazine for the this inspiration? setting of a totally abandoned Palace, during in exhibitions, followed some classes, and I
international community, and he intended to Libraries are great places to find inspiration, the spring. It was long ago, during the Second continue to improve my skills – or, let’s say, I
create one. He was going to do the writing, and and in particular the one we have in the World War. You describe the last days of the hope I do.
I was going to help him. However, it did not United Nations. It is a wonderful place filled League of Nations, and its Secretary-General
turn out that way, and all of a sudden, I found with dedicated and clever people. The library who decided to stay inside the Palace as the When I paint, I play with colours, when I
myself doing something I had never dreamt organises Library Talks and many other events, captain of the sinking ship. The Palace got write I play with words. You know there are so
of doing. I was very lucky because I met some and it’s a real source of inspiration for me. suddenly abandoned this Spring again, for many talented people out there, I’m just lucky

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