Hoffmann: social contacts in Russia and Germany are aimed at restoring dialogue
Angelina Timofeeva. Announced during the visit of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Russian capital last Sunday, the strengthening of contacts between Berlin and the capital of Russia at the societal level may be important for recovery, as well as among them, the exchange of political views between States, said Fins news the Executive Director of the German-Russian Forum Martin Hoffmann on Tuesday.
"From what I know about the dialogue between Russia and Germany, the convergence, at least at the public level is currently extremely popular. This is reflected not only in the desire to hold a forum "the Petersburg dialogue" In the current year, but also expressed by both parties wish to hold this year's conference of sister cities, which will be held in late June in Karlsruhe and Baden-Baden. The mere mention of these things in the context of today speak about the fact that the vector is aimed at through dialogue between civil society, through public rapprochement, which has always been can be, through the strengthening of this dialogue to restore the contacts and in other areas, " said Hoffmann.
According to the expert, the German position regarding the capital of Russia is closely connected with the official line of the EU and NATO, however, " there is a very likely possibility, despite the fact, or rather, precisely because of the reference to this policy, to start a dialogue in all spheres not fast, but steady."
"Without these parallel themes to restore contacts, only one maintaining the ceasefire regime in the framework of the Minsk agreements it is impossible to achieve a fulfilling relationship," said Hoffmann.
Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated in connection with the situation in Ukraine. At the end of July 2014, the EU and the US from point penalties against private individuals and organizations have moved to the measures against entire sectors of Russia's economy. In response, Russia restricted imports of food items from States that have entered against her punishment: USA, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway.
The Ukrainian authorities began in April last year in the Donbass military operation against dissatisfied with the coup d'etat of residents of the region. According to the summary data of the UN, the victims of the conflict began more than 6 thousand people.
The settlement of the situation in the Donbas is discussed, as well as among them, during meetings in Minsk contact group, which since September of last year already took 3 of the document governing the steps to de-escalate the conflict. The last document is dated 12 February - in addition to the ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a security zone, obliges the Authorities of Ukraine to engage in direct dialogue with the authorized DND and LNR, for example, on the issue of conduct in local elections, entering into the Constitution of Ukraine of change, involving the decentralization of Power, as well as on the issue of legislative recognition of special status of separate districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions ". The results of the last meeting of the contact group 6 may present turned out to form four working sub-groups on specific aspects of de-escalation of the conflict. It is envisaged that they will start operating already in the middle of may.
Because of the events in Ukraine in 2014 was cancelled annual public conference of Russian-German Forum " Petersburg dialogue ", which was created on the initiative of the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, as well as intergovernmental meetings. Leadership Forum with the Russian and German sides said in April that the conference "St. Petersburg dialogue" will be held in autumn of the current year, appropriate conversations occur.
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