After almost 20 years of working to improve Canadian-Russian relations, Carleton professor Piotr Dutkiewicz said he got an unexpected call from the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Canada, Georgiy Mamedov.

Mamedov presented Dutkiewciz with The Order of Friendship on behalf of Russian President Dimitry Medvedev Nov. 11 at Carleton.

“This is quite a long process, and no one was telling me this process was underway,” Dutkiewciz said, “so it was very unexpected and fulfilling after almost 20 years of working in the field of Russian studies.”

The Order of Friendship is typically given to people who are working to improve inter-country relations with Russia, according to a Carleton news release.

Dutkiewicz, the former director of the European, Russian and Eurasian Studies department at Carleton, is currently the director for the Centre of Governance and Public Management at Carleton.

Working with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Dutkiewicz was director of four large-scale projects in Russia dealing with regional development, unemployment insurance, labour market and social policies, and juvenile justice and youth at risk.

Other Canadian recipients of the award include Adrienne Clarkson, former governor general of Canada and Marcel Prud’homme, former Canadian MP and senator.

Dutkiewicz’s work also includes teaching Russian politics, organizing conferences relating to Russia, organizing seminars and inviting senators from Russia to be acquainted with the Canadian system.

Russia can learn from Canada’s multiculturalism and education system, he said.

“Usually during such meetings and exchanges, we are learning from the Russians as well, so this is a mutual exchange of information," he said.

Dutkiewicz was editor-in-chief of a 21 volume series titled “Local and Regional Development in Poland and Eastern Europe,” published in 1989. He also edited or co-edited 12 books.

His said his best advice for Carleton students is to be persistent.

“Without being persistent, you cannot get anything these days. Don’t be disappointed about potential setbacks,” he said.

Dutkiewicz said he is grateful for the award and recognition and he plans to continue his research.

“I believe it is not only an honour to me, but also an honour to Carleton University and my colleagues who are working in the same field.”

“We will continue,” he said.