Alexander Aksenenok – Ambassador (ret), PhD in Law (political systems, constitutional developments), RIAC Vice-President. Previous positions: Diplomatic service in the MFA and the Embassies of the USSR and then Russia (1965-2002) in the MENA region and Europe, including Ambassador to Algeria (1991-1995), Special Envoy on the Balkans (1995-1998), Ambassador to Slovakia (1998-2002), Adviser to the Chairmen and Managing Director for the projects in the Middle East, Vnesheconombank (2002-2016). Research interests: International relations with the focus on regional politics, transformations in the Arab world, conflict resolution, global and regional security, nation-building and peacekeeping operations, Islamic studies. Publications: Numerous articles in the journal Russia in global affairs, in the books
The Middle East, Arab Awakening and Russia: what is ahead? and
New international relations: basic trends and challenges for Russia (Russian edition) as well as various newspapers, including Kommersant, Vedomosty, Nezavisimaya, Gazeta etc.
Despite its geographical location, Russia has always been a European country throughout its history and remains so. A great deal of Russia's vital interests is closely connected with Europe. Whatever the problems the EU is going through, the new generation of Russian people aspire to normalize Russia's relations with Europe as an indispensable condition for its sustained economic development in the secured environment.