From 19 to 23 May 2003, business meetings were held in Moscow and Novgorod to discuss expanding PEN-International in Russia.
On 19 May, Director DeCaro presented a briefing to the Academic Council of Bauman Moscow Sate Technical University regarding how PEN-International is working at Bauman and throughout Russia to improve the educational circumstances of people who are deaf. This was followed (21 and 22 May) by a series of meetings in the Novgorod Region to discuss Novgorod joining PEN-International. Governor Mikhail Prussak of the Greater Novgorod Region expressed serious interest in participating in PEN-International and arranged meetings throughout Novgorod with the leadership of education and rehabilitation. Subsequently, it was agreed that key personnel from the Novgorod Region would participate in PEN-International training at Bauman and NTID.
On 23 May, the Social Protection Department of the City of Moscow and the Rehabilitation Center of the City of Moscow were visited. In the course of discussions, it was agreed that faculty and administrators from the Rehabilitation center would participate in PEN-International training at Bauman. Further, Department Head Igor Syrnikov of Social Protection agreed to work with Professor Stanevsky of Bauman to determine how best to build a multimedia laboratory in Moscow for use with citizens who are disabled.
