Five Years Together: Results of the Anniversary Forum “Russia — the Middle East”

Not by nuclear issues alone! From October 19 to 23, the 5th International Research and Expert Forum “Russia — the Middle East” was held, organized by the Primakov Center together with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

This year, the forum brought together leading scholars and experts from ten countries — Russia, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, the UAE, and Kuwait.

Forum highlights:

3 venues — the Russian State Library, the Library for Foreign Literature, and the Primakov Center

Each venue had its own focus: the RSL hosted discussions on the strategies of global players, the Library for Foreign Literature explored humanitarian and technological agendas, while the Primakov Center focused on the Syrian issue and summarized the results.

8 expert sessions and discussions

The agenda covered a wide range of topics — from Iran’s role and political Islam to the crisis in Palestine — demonstrating strong interest in developing balanced approaches to regional security and cooperation.

1 cultural program

Participants visited the State Museum of Oriental Art, where they explored collections revealing the depth of historical and cultural ties between Russia and the Middle East, and discussed the importance of cultural diplomacy as a tool for mutual understanding.

100 commemorative newspapers and postcards

To mark the forum’s anniversary, special editions featuring materials by Yevgeny Primakov and postcards depicting cities that hosted the forum over the past five years were released — a symbolic chronicle of the project’s growth and geography.

Countless meetings and new connections

The forum became a space for open dialogue, where members of the academic community exchanged views, strengthened professional ties, and laid the groundwork for new joint initiatives.

Thank you to everyone who made the forum what we cherish it for — professional and sincere. See you next year!