Scientific and Cultural Cooperation Between Russia
and the Middle East Discussed in Moscow
The 4th International Scientific and Expert Forum "Russia - Middle East" was held in Moscow on October 28-30, organized by the Primakov Center in conjunction with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The forum, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of Yevgeny Primakov, brought together more than 50 leading experts from 15 countries of the region. The events took place at two significant venues in the capital - the Reception House of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian State Library.
Day 1. Reception House of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The first day of the forum took place at the Reception House of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The organizers delivered welcome addresses to the participants, emphasizing the importance of developing expert dialogue and outlining the main areas of work.
"Our platform provides an opportunity for open dialogue on the most pressing issues, as well as a chance to synchronize our views on key matters of the international agenda. Each year we select new topics for discussion, but our commitment to cover the broadest possible range of issues and engage experts from all countries of the region remains constant," noted Victoria Karslieva, Executive Director of the Primakov Center.
"The forum is dedicated to Yevgeny Primakov's anniversary. Yevgeny Maksimovich was not only an outstanding diplomat but also headed the Institute of Oriental Studies and made significant contributions to developing scientific and analytical methods for forecasting international political issues. Today, continuing his traditions, we advocate for frank exchange of opinions and dialogue where participants are not afraid to discuss the most critical and fundamental issues," emphasized Vasily Kuznetsov, Doctor of Political Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Head of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS.
The forum's opening session, focused on prospects for cooperation in an era of global transformations, was launched by Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and African Countries. His speech centered on the growing interest of Middle Eastern countries in BRICS as a new format for international interaction. "BRICS is not a Western alliance, but it is not anti-Western either. We are choosing the path of strengthening our countries' sovereignty and moving away from the dollar, which is used as a method of pressure. The expansion of BRICS through Middle Eastern countries demonstrates a growing demand for a more equitable world order," he stated.

For his part, Vitaly Naumkin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Scientific Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS, connected current trends with Yevgeny Primakov's legacy. "It was Primakov who laid the groundwork for BRICS, beginning with the RIC (Russia-India-China) format, and established the foundation for a more equitable world order. Today, we see the growing role of Arab and Islamic states in formats such as the SCO and BRICS, which fully aligns with his vision of a multipolar world," the scholar emphasized.

The discussion also included Ahmad Majdalani, Secretary General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He presented his perspective on regional issues and emphasized the importance of a multilateral approach to resolving them. "Today, more than ever, collective intervention and joint actions are necessary to reduce tensions in the Middle East. The Russian Federation is a strong advocate of this approach, consistently emphasizing the importance of multilateral mechanisms in addressing regional problems," the Palestinian politician noted.
The first session of the forum focused on cultural and scientific diplomacy. The discussion included Vitaly Naumkin,Special Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Director of the Archaeological Museum in Basra Mustafa Jasem Al-Husseini, and Director of the Al-Hiwar Center for Media and Political Studies Ahmed Taher. The experts analyzed the current state of cultural cooperation, noting growing mutual interest. However, they emphasized that cooperation has not yet taken on a systematic character and requires further development.

REPORT

During the session, a report titled "The Mission of Russia's Cultural and Scientific Diplomacy in the Middle East"was announced, prepared by Vitaly Naumkin, General Director of the State Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovsky,and Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS Vasily Kuznetsov.


The study reveals key aspects of cooperation in scientific, technical, and cultural spheres, evaluates the effectiveness of existing mechanisms and programs, and proposes new formats for strengthening ties between countries. Special attention is given to practical recommendations for overcoming existing barriers and developing systematic cooperation at all levels - from academic to creative.


The full presentation of the report will take place in the near future.

Вторая часть дня была посвящена вопросам технологического суверенитета и научно-технического сотрудничества. Участники обсудили перспективы развития партнерства в условиях формирования нового технологического уклада, а также пути сохранения национального, технологического и интеллектуального суверенитета при углублении международной кооперации.
Days 2-3. Russian State Library
Over the following days, the forum continued its work in the historic building of the Russian State Library. The second day opened with a discussion on prospects for cooperation in green energy, where experts paid special attention to the development of nuclear projects and new directions in energy partnership. The discussion then moved to the region's pressing issue of water security. Participants analyzed existing challenges and state strategies for addressing water scarcity, as well as discussed Russia's potential role in overcoming these difficulties.

The final day of the forum was dedicated to fundamental issues of international relations and practical aspects of cooperation. During the first session, experts examined the relationship between values and pragmatism in Middle East foreign policy, paying special attention to how these factors influence the formation of regional alliances and political decision-making. The concluding session focused on new opportunities for economic cooperation between Russia and the Gulf countries.
Center for Oriental Literature of the Russian State Library
As part of the cultural program, forum participants visited the Center for Oriental Literature of the Russian State Library — one of the world's largest collections of books and manuscripts in Eastern languages. The Center's holdings contain publications in more than 200 languages of Asian and African peoples, many of which are bibliographic rarities.

Among the most valuable items presented to the experts was one of the first printed dictionaries of the Arab world and a unique collection of early Turkish printed books, including 16 of the 17 known titles by Ibrahim Müteferrika. The guests were particularly impressed by miniature editions of the Quran, some copies of which do not exceed three centimeters in height.