NHC calls for more people-to-people contacts with Russia

The NHC has called on the Dutch parliament to increase attention for people-to-people contacts in relations with Russia. The recently issued governmental policy paper on relations with Russia is scheduled for debate on 25 June. The paper does recognize the importance of contacts at the level of individual citizens, but the NHC calls for concrete steps to support such contacts.

The letter to the parliamentarians says: “Contacts with and support of civil society organisations that aim for realizing joint European values such as developed a.o. by the Council of Europe and the OSCE, are of the greatest possible importance. Cultural and academic contacts that fit this framework, also deserve the fullest support.”

The full letter (in Dutch) can be found here.