The meeting of the RIAT pro-rector for public relations Trofimov E.N. and the director of the Center for the organisation of the international activity Smagin V. P with the President of Assembly of the European regions (AER) Madame Michèle Sabban (France) and the AER Secretary General AER Mr. Klaus Klipp (Germany) took place on February, 2nd, 2009 in the hotel "Novotel-centre".
The meeting was devoted to the prospects of cooperation between the AER and the RIAT.
The both parties confirmed during the negotiations their interest to establish partner relations in view to promote cooperation of the Russian regions with regions of the European countries in the tourist and educational sphere.
They discussed the contingent joint creation in the RIAT of the chair for sustainable tourism to make use of the experience of the European colleagues at regional level.
RIAT representatives conveyed to the AER leaders the invitation of the RIAT rector professor I.V.Zorin to take part in the III International forum «Tourism: science and education» which will take place on this May, 19-21th in Moscow.
The invitation was accepted with gratitude.
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The Assembly of European Regions was created in 1985. One of the main tasks of the Assembly consists in promoting the dialogue and cooperation between the European regions, the realisation of joint projects with full respect of constitutions of the various states and the contracts concluded between them. Thus the AER operates as a forum of cooperation and a know-how exchange between the European regions.
The Assembly of European Regions has the status of observer in the Council of Europe and closely co-operates with the institutions of the European Union. The organisation is located in Strasbourg.
The AER members today are 270 regions from 33 European countries and 14 inter-regional organisations.
Michèle Sabban who was earlier vice-president of the AER (2006-2008) was elected as president during its last General Assembly in Tampere (Finland).
