At the closing event of the German-Russian Year of Municipal and Regional Partnerships in Berlin on September 14, 2018, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov presented an award to the outstanding non-political citizens' initiative "Leipzig: Most" out of 250 nominated projects. The Saxon association sees itself as having a historic duty to promote international friendship and understanding.

"The exchange between the people of our countries gives us hope for a closer relationship in the future, also politically," said Maas.

At the same event, the board, under its chairman former Minister President Michael Platzeck, appointed Prof. Dr. Clemens Renker to the German-Russian Forum. The members of this forum are personalities from leading positions in international companies, politicians from all parties, academia, culture and the media.

"We must not moan and complain about the failures of politicians or church institutions. As citizens of a vibrant civil society, we must use our human skills of dialog and dialogue for peace and openness with all people. Because we live in the best of all worlds," says Professor Renker.

Good sentiments alone are of little help if the actions are not backed up by responsibility for people. Professor Renker, together with his Russian colleague Prof. Georgie Bagiev and the Director of the German-Russian Center in St. Petersburg, Prof. Tatjana Nikitina, has been working on a voluntary basis for 24 years to establish 40 partnerships with German universities.

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences' partner university in Russia was initiated in 1994 by the Zittau energy scientist Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Riesner. His success conference on the development of energy economics with transition countries is being continued today by Prof. Dr. Tino Schütte from our university in a competent and innovative manner.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Clemens Renker

Former Prime Minister Michael Platzeck and Clemens Renker

Photos: Private

Contact

Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. Clemens Renker

Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management

Email: c.renker(at)hszg.de