Academic community is able to improve cooperation between Russia and Europe

15:37, October 26, 2015

Rector of the university is the head of the academic section of the Forum in Potsdam

The rector of Ural Federal University is sure, that Moscow and Berlin understand that economic sanctions are not tools for building relationships. Victor Koksharov headed the working group on science and education at the forum "Petersburg Dialogue", which took place in Potsdam, Germany on September, 23.

"Germany is the largest EU member, it has great political weight and is capable of initiating the lifting the sanctions because they hurt social and economic development of our countries and can not have any impact on the political course", - says Victor Koksharov.

The rector noted that any hopes for a change of political leadership are doomed to failure because of the sanctions: it is clear that the population of Russia is rallying, supporting the course of the president.

In addition, according to the head of the university, the sanctions lead to an increase in confidence: "We understand that sooner or later the sanctions will be lifted, but the hostility to each other we will have to overcome for a long time."

Victor Koksharov believes that it is necessary to establish a mechanism of consultations on a new European security architecture as soon as possible. In the meantime, representatives of civil society, education, science and culture can strengthen cooperation.

The Conference of Rectors of Germany and Russia held on October 6 showed that the rectors of the German universities do not support sanctions and are ready to continue joint projects with the Russian universities.