Russian International Affairs Council set to work.
The General Assembly of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) which set to work upon the Instruction of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev was held on July, 20 in the Reception House of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The General Assembly of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) which set to work upon the Instruction of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev was held on July, 20 in the Reception House of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Among RIAC co-founders are the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Ministry of Education and Science, Russian Academy of Science, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and INTERFAX news agency. The General Assembly was attended by prominent scientists, diplomats, public and political figures, business representatives. The Assembly adopted the membership of the Presidium, the Trusteeship and Academic Councils and considered other organizational issues.
Inaugurating the RIAC Assembly Serguey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Russia, read out to the RIAC members the Address of President D.Medvedev which formulates the primary mission of this organization – to promote international studies in the Russian Federation, to further improve training of foreign policy experts and specialists in regional studies and to arrange for the cooperation of Russian research organizations with foreign think-tanks on international relations issues.
In his speech Mr. Lavrov expressed confidence that the activities of RIAC which united the leading representatives of the Russian foreign policy establishment would facilitate further interaction of the state, the punditry, business circles and the civil society in shaping Russia’s foreign policy.
Igor Ivanov, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, RIAC President-elect shared the Council’s plans with RIAC members stressing out that in its work it will be guided by the networking principle, i.e. closer interaction with the leading research and educational centers of Russia and cooperation with government bodies. It will allow us to cope with the tasks assigned to RIAC by the President of Russia, - he said.
Speaking before the Assembly the Council’s Director General A. Kortunov highlighted concrete projects to be realized in 2011 and 2012. They are – reading book “Russia in the globalized world: 2000-2012”; reference book “International studies in Russia”, brochures “Foreign Сouncils on International affairs”; “Russia and the world: North-South-East-West”; “International migration processes: trends, challenges, the outlook”; “APEC: development trends and opportunities for Russia”; organization of events “Asian energy dialogue”, “Afghanistan and Central Asia”, ‘Middle East”, summer school “Youth networks of International Affairs Councils”; Council’s year-book.
Thus, research and expertise, educational, enlightening, communication, public and international activities will be the main focus of RIAC practical work.