On March 17, 2015, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held a seminar entitled “The Prospects for EU–Russia Relations under Latvian Presidency”. The event was organized jointly with the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Moscow. Opening speeches were made by RIAC President Igor Ivanov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Russia Astra Kurme and the head of European Union's delegation in Russia Vygaudas Ušackas.
“The Ukrainian crisis has brought to light those negative trends in EU–Russia relations that had been building up over the course of years,” Igor Ivanov noted in his speech.
The European Union’s representative, Vygaudas Ušackas, added: “At the present time, relations between the two sides are marked by differences of opinion. We need a new modus vivendi, because we are too dependent on each other to live in isolation.” “We are living in the same neighbourhood, but everyone has locked themselves in their own homes watching television. But the television says that we are enemies. This seminar is proof that we turned the television off today and went to talk to our neighbours,” Astra Kurme commented.
On March 17, 2015, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) held a seminar entitled “The Prospects for EU–Russia Relations under Latvian Presidency”. The event was organized jointly with the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Moscow.
Opening speeches were made by RIAC President Igor Ivanov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Russia Astra Kurme and the head of European Union's delegation in Russia Vygaudas Ušackas.
“The Ukrainian crisis has brought to light those negative trends in EU–Russia relations that had been building up over the course of years,” Igor Ivanov noted in his speech.
The European Union’s representative, Vygaudas Ušackas, added: “At the present time, relations between the two sides are marked by differences of opinion. We need a new modus vivendi, because we are too dependent on each other to live in isolation.”
Speakers and panellists at the discussion included the Director of the European Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Ivan Soltanovsky, the Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Contemporary Development (INSOR) Igor Yurgens, heads of the relevant departments of the Russian, Latvian and Swedish foreign ministries, the ambassadors of Estonia, Lithuania and Tajikistan to Russia, and numerous Russian experts.
Participants noted that such informal meetings in the one-and-a-half track format were particularly important in the current international context, when maintaining dialogue has become the most crucial function of public diplomacy.
“We are living in the same neighbourhood, but everyone has locked themselves in their own homes watching television. But the television says that we are enemies. This seminar is proof that we turned the television off today and went to talk to our neighbours,” Astra Kurme commented.
In the context of deteriorating relations between Russia and the European Union, the seminar represented a genuine attempt to openly discuss the animosities that had built up, find a way out of the crisis and create a constructive basis for cooperation. The discussion covered Russian–Latvian bilateral relations, the future of the Eastern Partnership, as well as Russia–EU cooperation in Central Asia.
“We are happy that the seminar is being held in Russian… We want to be understood… It allows the Baltic countries to move away from the image that has been imposed on us in Russia,” Ms. Kurme stated.
Speaking specifically about the economic component of Russian–Latvian relations, Igor Yurgens noted that “the economy is the part of Russian–Latvian relations that is not subject to large fluctuations with regard to the sanctions and the general cooling of relations between Russia and the West.” He added: “In Latvia, great steps have been made towards integrating the Russian-speaking population. As far as the Russian leadership is concerned, these steps are insufficient, but they are very impressive compared to the situation we had in 1991.”
Seminar “Prospects for EU–Russia Relations under Latvian Presidency”
