• Start date:  08.06.2023
• End date:  08.06.2023
• RU:  День рождения российско-австрийского Форума «Сочинский диалог» в РГГУ
• Status: Completed

On June 8, 2023, the Russian-Austrian Public Forum "Sochi Dialogue" celebrated four years since its establishment in the Academic Council Hall of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH).

The leading Austrian manufacturer of cochlear implantation systems, MED-EL (Medical Electronics), became a partner of the event. In cooperation with MED-EL, the Forum has already carried out several projects supporting vulnerable groups of the population - children and adults deaf from birth who have lost their hearing and regained it thanks to cochlear implantation.

The event was attended by guests of the Sochi Dialogue, representatives of the Steering Committee, partners and friends of the Forum, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Austrian Friendship Society, students of the Russian-Austrian master's program "Russia-Austria: History, Politics, Economics, Culture".

Rector of the Russian State University for the Humanities Alexander Bezborodov opened the event: "It is no coincidence that we are meeting today at the Russian State University for the Humanities, our fruitful work with the Sochi Dialogue has been taking place for many years. We really appreciate this cooperation, because RSUH has a particular attitude towards Austria and its people, our students and professors study the history of the development of Russian-Austrian relations with great interest in the smallest details, an entire program of studies is focused on it".

The event was attended by guests from Austria and Germany, with whom the Sochi Dialogue does not cut ties even in difficult foreign policy conditions.

The Director of the Forum, Maria Dmitrievna Matveeva, spoke about the Dialogue's activities for 2019-2023 and the important milestones of the Russian-Austrian partnership, shared further plans with the guests and encouraged them to maintain fruitful interaction. "The continuation of Russian-Austrian cooperation in scientific, humanitarian, cultural, sports spheres, the preservation of our contacts and warm relations regardless of the global political conjuncture - all this is a very significant achievement of the work of the Sochi Dialogue over the years of its existence. And this is possible thanks to the support of our dear partners and members of the forum's coordinating committee," she said.

At the meeting a film "Absolute Hearing" about social projects of MED-EL and the process of returning hearing, which even today in 2023, is perceived as a real miracle, was shown.

Congratulatory speeches were made by O.V. Pavlenko, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work of RSUH, N.Y. Konyushenko, Partner of MED-EL social projects. Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in Austria O. Ksenofontov greeted the guests via video link.