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Brussels hosts Fifth European Russian Forum

It will discuss the place of the European Union and Russia in a new geopolitical structure of the world

BRUSSELS, November 21 (Itar-Tass) — The Fifth European Russian Forum will be held on Monday at the European Parliament with participation of representatives from Russian and European public organizations, politicians, parliamentarians and reporters. It will discuss the place of the European Union and Russia in a new geopolitical structure of the world.

“We have a small anniversary today and we expect that our discussions will contribute to a better mutual understanding between Russia and the European Union, and to a better understanding of our place and role in the present-day world,” European MP Tatyana Zhdanok told Tass.

According to her, “recommendations for an upcoming in December Russia-EU summit” will be prepared on the results of the forum.

Apart from a general plenary session, the forum will work in sections, where two main issues will be discussed – contribution of the youth to the development of public diplomacy at the level of relations between Russia and the EU and a danger of the strengthening right-wing extremism and neo-fascist movements in Europe.

The forum is held yearly starting from October 2007. It was designed as a platform for the development of non-governmental mechanisms of an EU-Russia political dialogue.

The aim of the forum is to boost Russian-European integration processes in the humanitarian sphere, promote a positive image of Russia and Russians in Europe, establish and strengthen personal contacts among politicians, economists, business people, non-governmental organizations, clergymen and cultural activists of Russia and EU countries.

Taking part in discussions, in particular, will be Alexander Chepurin, Director of the Department for Relations with Compatriots Living Abroad at the Russian Foreign Ministry; Russia’s Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov; Deputy Director of the Russkiy Mir Foundation Vassily Istratov; head of the International Council of Russian Compatriots, Count Peter Sheremetev; Archbishop Simon of Belgium and the Netherlands and chairman of the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations in Russia Zinovy Kogan.

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