Fletcher and MGIMO Students Visit Russian International Affairs Council

On March 21, 2018, RIAC hosted a meeting for the students of the Joint Educational Module of Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. The discussion was devoted to Russia-the U.S. relations, as well as the situation around North Korea.

Ivan Timofeev, RIAC Director of Programs, said in his opening speech: “RIAC is a think tank and a platform for exchanging views, a place where it is possible and necessary to test various hypotheses, hold debates, round tables, and conferences on the most pending issues with the politicians, political scientists, and parties invited.” Therefore, RIAC was and is the platform for dialogue and discussion on the most challenging and pressing topics at high expert level. The crisis on the Korean peninsula is still on the list of such topics.

“Journalists and general public pay great attention to the North Korean nuclear missile program, leaving aside the issue of regulating relations between the two Korean states. Though it is the improvement of relations between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea that is a prerequisite for resolving the crisis,” — stated Gleb Ivashentsov, RIAC Vice President, Russian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea in 2005-2009.

In the course of a dynamic discussion, experts expressed an opinion that a positive step towards resolving the crisis on the Korean peninsula could be an international security guarantee for the DPRK, recognition of its sovereignty and the right to exist. Russia has always advocated for a peaceful resolution to the issue through the dialogue.

This piece was republished from the Russian International Affairs Council website.