On June 6, within the framework of the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a discussion was held on the topic “Requiem for Europe – a new era of international cooperation.” The session was moderated by Daniil Bisslinger, Advisor to the Head of Rosmolodezh for International Affairs, Director General of the Directorate of the World Youth Festival.

Maria Zakharova, Director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, addressed the discussion participants with a welcoming speech. She noted that the system of international relations is going through a period of transformation, and a new world order is currently emerging.

“The vector of these changes is obvious. We are talking about the formation of a polycentric system based on a plurality of centers, within the framework of which interstate relations should be built on a more democratic, transparent and, most importantly, equal basis. The world has ceased to be Western-centric, and this causes resistance from those whose main principles of doing business on the world stage were selfishness, the desire to profit at the expense of others. Almost the entire Western part of Europe found itself in this camp. Having become practically vassals of the United States, European countries are desperately seeking to maintain dominance and monopolize the right to make globally significant decisions ,” said Maria Zakharova.

The session participants discussed the need to create a fair and equal multipolar world, as well as the role of the younger generation in building the future.

“We often talk about how the world is changing. Exactly a year ago we discussed what methods to use to build relations with the West, and today we are saying that a “requiem for Europe” is coming. Western elites have chosen a confrontational path in relation to interaction with Russia. They began to slide to the sidelines of world history: if earlier we talked about the Group of Eight, the Normandy Format and the Istanbul Format, today they seem to have slipped into the role of outside observers,” noted Daniil Bisslinger.

Former Austrian Foreign Minister and head of the GORKI Center Karin Kneissl believes that European diplomacy is currently in decline.

“We must give new breath to diplomacy, renew old traditions, attract people who know how to speak and interact with each other respectfully. It is very important to meet and exchange opinions, and not just pre-prepared phrases. For me, the essence and soul of Europe is its freedom and the rule of law. However, this is no longer the case. I believe that in Russia there is much more freedom than in other countries of the world ,” said Karin Kneissl.

The fifth President of the Republic of Moldova, Chairman of the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova Igor Dodon spoke about the current situation of the European Union and the politics of his country.

“The main question is: is there a future for that beautiful European Union and its principles? The attractiveness of the European Union for Russians and Moldovans was observed in the early 2000s. I am sure that now more and more citizens of the European Union countries agree that these principles for which the organization was created no longer exist. There is no freedom of speech and objectionable opinions and the media are prohibited, there are also no economic and social guarantees taking into account migrants,” noted Igor Dodon.

President of Ladoga Management LLC, member of the public council of Rossotrudnichestvo Kirill Shamalov spoke about the obstacles that Russia faced as a result of the imposition of sanctions on it by Western states, and also described the opportunities arising from these restrictions that opened up for our country, and gave his assessment of what is happening in the international arena.

“We have our international family – BRICS. We have a great relationship. NATO doesn’t understand one thing: the world is changing, there won’t be this unipolar American world that will tell what to do and to whom,” noted Kirill Shamalov.

The Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Joint Center for Business Cooperation “BRICS” Vicente Barrientos also spoke about the broad potential of the BRICS alliance.

“One of the tools that could have an impact in the development of BRICS is the establishment and development of the “BRICS code,” possibly based on the Russian cultural code. Because Russia always brings order and progress, development and prosperity. This is what we should strive for ,” said Vicente Barrientos.

Chairman of the Committee of the Joint International Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom of Thailand Nimnual Phewtchogngam described the role of Russia in the formation of the sovereignty of Thailand and emphasized the successful development of friendly relations between the two countries for more than 170 years. She also called for the development of international cooperation through education and the development of youth interaction. Khalid Al Mulla, Head of Research and Development at Al Mulla Group from the UAE, spoke about the current stage of technology development in the Middle East. Studex Group CEO Thumelo Ramaphosa from South Africa spoke about information distortion on the part of the West:

“When I came to Russia, I saw how the minds of Western Europeans were polluted by what they were told about Russia. The Western world talks about Africa in the same way – as a place where violence and bloodshed occur. But the people here are the friendliest and hardest working.”

The head of the brokerage department of LM Investments, Christopher Douglas Emms, represented the UK during the discussion. The young man told how he faced unjustified persecution from the United States. He also noted that Russia is a free country for doing business.

Executive Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Sergei Pospelov, at the end of the speakers’ speech, spoke about the need to create a unified settlement system that would bring cooperation between countries to a new economic level.

“Our task for the near future is to create our own financial system. This will be a common settlement instrument, we will see a completely different Eurasian partnership ,” summed up Sergei Pospelov.

Summing up the discussion, Daniil Bisslinger noted that as a result of the World Youth Festival, Russia can give new impetus to international youth policy.

“International youth policy will develop within the framework of the federal project “Russia in the World.” We would like to invite all foreign partners to cooperate in order to provide people with education, invite them to Russia, and send representatives of Russian youth to visit our foreign partners. We need to create our own factories of meaning and fill this very polycentric world with new content, new standards and rules that will meet the interests of the adequate majority ,” said Daniil Bisslinger.

EK/HMS