First European Russian forum to be held in Brussels

Brussels will host the first European Russian Forum dedicated to the institution of a public dialogue between the European Union and Russia and the role of ethnic Russians living abroad in such a dialogue on October 1-2. "It is the maintenance of the spiritual, linguistic, cultural identity of ethnic Russian living abroad and their ties with Russia, as well as their full-scale social, economic and political integration in the countries they live in, that cements their consolidating role as subjects of such a dialogue," secretary of the organisation committee and deputy chairman of the European Russian Alliance Archpriest Antonii Ilyin said. "The modernisation of Russia and the European construction are unique projects that have common elements: a creative potential, dynamism and aspiration for the future," the archpriest said.
"The presence of a crisis in bilateral relations and the absence of comprehensive and working mechanisms of public dialogue between the EU and Russia provide the forum with unparalleled opportunities," the archpriest said, expressing hope that the project will find a niche among the most important annual pan-European events.
The forum will be held in the Belgian parliament annually and will be a unique platform for dialogue and efficient cooperation between civil society, business, traditional confessions and ethnic Russians residing in Europe, he said.
The project is the initiative of the European Russian Alliance and its chairperson Tatyana Zhdanok, the only MEP who represents the interests of the large Russia community in the EU. A list of recommendations to be forwarded to Russian and EU authorities ahead of the EU-Russia summit will be prepared by the forum.