The expert forum “Public Diplomacy: Regional Dimension”

The event was organized by an Institute of Cross-border cooperation and integration together with “Znaniye” Society and Gorchakov Foundation. More than 200 experts from 20 regions of Russia and 15 countries took part in Forum’s work.

Vice rector for education and informatization of BelSU Aleksandr Mamatov greeted the participants and congratulated them with the beginning of the forum. He also said that near-border Belgorod Region is a traditional place for such events, and BelSU has always been one of its main hosts.

Besides the Consul-General of Russian Federation in Kharkov Sergei Semyonov and representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Voronezh Sergei Laptev and other guests the university has also welcomed colleagues from Association of European Near-Border Regions – Secretary-General of the Association Ramirez Martin Gilyerme and the head of the target group for external bound development Johannes Moyzo via videoconference. They said that such interactive events are the examples of successful public diplomacy projects’ realization. According to their speech, Belgorod Region is one of the most progressive regions in applying of innovational methods of public diplomacy in near-border cooperation.

The conference has lasted for two days and included foresight-sessions and panel discussions. At the end of the second day the participants externalized their vision of the future of Eurasian Union, determined the perspectives of its development, its strengths, weaknesses etc.