THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW AND RUSSIA Interview with Christophe Bernasconi DOI: 10.17803/2313-5395.2015.2.4.363-366 The Hague Conference on Private International Law is an intergovernmental organization, working toward ‘progressive unification of the rules of private international law’, according to Article 1 of its Statute. <...> The HCCH is the oldest international organization in The Hague and the only one in The Hague with a legislative function. <...> It fulfi ls its mandate by developing and adopting Hague Conventions. <...> Currently 38 Conventions and Protocols were adopted under umbrella of the HCCH. <...> The main fi elds of the HCCH activities are unifi cation of rules concerning jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement as well as legal cooperation. <...> T After the presentation, Mr Christophe Bernasconi, the Secretary General of the HCCH, kindly agreed to answer our several questions. — Mr Bernasconi, thank you for your brilliant presentation! <...> The Hague Conference on Private International Law is one of the most well-known and oldest organizations for legal cooperation in the World. <...> Why did you consider it important to make a special presentation of the HCCH within the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum? — With a focus on developing innovative and effective solutions for individuals and businesses that move, trade or invest across borders, the HCCH seeks to be a global forum that offers modern and effective legal Volume 2 October 2015 Issue 2(4) www.kulawr.ru he Presentation of the Hague Conference on Private International Law was arranged on the margins of the V St. Petersburg International Legal Forum. 364 KUTAFIN UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW solutions for important social and economic challenges of the 21st century. <...> The opportunity to present the Organisation’s work at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum was important in light of the close alignment between the HCCH’s goals and those of the Legal Forum. <...> Attracting over 3,500 participants, the Legal Forum is one of the largest international meetings of lawyers; therefore, it naturally presented a unique chance for the HCCH to address government representatives and experts from all over the world. <...> Given Russia’s long-standing and very active involvement in the HCCH, it was important for the Organization to be able to showcase our Conventions and instruments at the event. — What areas of cooperation are <...>