"This was not even a question. Mr. de Maiziere [Petersburg Dialogue's German coordination committee head] is now set to discuss future plans and the further course of reforms of the Petersburg Dialogue with the members of the German coordinating committee," Hoffmann said, commenting on recent rumors that forum leadership may be changed.
According to Hoffmann, there are 25 people in the coordinating committee and three of them proposed forum reforms, but there was no talk about changes in leadership. The decision on whether or not to proceed with the proposed reforms will be taken in "a democratic way," Hoffmann stated.
"They are offering structural reforms. They are not happy with the fact that the dialogue's activity is coordinated by the German-Russian Forum's office. They want a completely different structure, they want to reduce the coordinating committee's membership," Hoffmann added.
Hoffmann's comments come amid media speculation as to whether the Petersburg Dialogue's German coordination committee head Lothar de Maiziere and the head of the Russian-German Forum Matthias Platzeck might lose their posts.
The annual Petersburg Dialogue forum was established in 2001 at the initiative of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder. The forum is aimed at increasing mutual understanding between Russia and Germany, and further broadening bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The German-Russian Forum, established in 1993, is an independent structure. According to Hoffmann, it works with the civil society, including NGOs, advocacy organizations and public figures, such as writers, scientists, press, lawyers, etc.
