The Russian-Arab Dialogue Center was established at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences on March 28, 2005.

Its activities are carried out under the leadership of A. Z. Egorin. According to the agreement with the Arab Organization for Science, Education and Culture (ALECSO), which was confirmed at the talks in Tunis on April 18, 2005, the main tasks of the center are::

a) defining a common strategy for cooperation in scientific, cultural and pedagogical fields between Russia and Arab countries;

b) holding specific events and meetings with the participation of experts, public and political figures of the two sides to optimize mutually beneficial areas of the Russian-Arab dialogue;

The goal of this project is to create ways to bring points of view closer together and deepen approaches to the implementation of specific humanitarian programs. The work is based on the principles of equality and mutual understanding, pluralism of opinions and compliance with the framework of available opportunities.

Work on the project involves a two-step level:

1. Implementation of scientific programs of pan-Arab significance with the participation and mediation of the League of Arab States and ALECSO.

2. Holding joint events with a single Arab country, either within the framework of protocols on scientific cooperation signed by the Institute of International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences with national research centers, or in accordance with intergovernmental programs on cultural and scientific cooperation signed by the Russian Federation with a specific Arab country.

The Russian-Arab Dialogue is an interdepartmental, freelance organizational structure dedicated to implementing coordinated Russian-Arab scientific, educational, and cultural programs. In its daily work and relations with its Russian and Arab colleagues, the Center coordinates its activities with the Directorate and department heads, following the instructions of the Director of the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In 2008, the center continued to work on the implementation of scientific and cultural and educational programs of pan-Arab significance with the participation of ALECSO, the League of Arab States, and also carried out joint activities with scientific centers of individual Arab countries. Regular seminars, conferences, and round tables were held on topics of mutual interest. Groups were created to carry out specific scientific research, and courses were organized to study Arabic (in Russia) and Russian (in Arab countries) languages, history, and culture, including the preparation of scientific monographs and textbooks, and the discussion of books and textbooks. There is an exchange of scientists, teachers and students. Joint scientific councils were engaged in selecting scientific papers for translation into Arabic (Russian), as well as for discussing dissertation research. Printed materials were exchanged, exhibitions, book presentations and other cultural and social events were organized, including mutual visits of delegations and individual scientists.

In addition to these forms of work, in 2008 we coordinated our efforts with the Association of Arab Migrants in Russia, as well as regional Arab centers at major Russian universities (St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Kazan). In particular, centers of Russian-Arab studies have started functioning in the above-mentioned universities. Thus, he became a member of the Board of the Center for Russian-Iraqi Studies at Voronezh State University (VSU), which started its work in the field of Islamic studies.

It has been functioning since December 17, 2007, and A. Z. Yegorin was included from the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Voronezh project aims to combine the efforts of Russian and Iraqi higher education institutions in studying the culture, modern politics and history of Russia and Iraq. In September 2008, the Iraqi Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities in Voronezh (the largest in Russia) proposed to the VSU Rector's office to create a Russian-Arab university under its auspices. The VSU Rector's Office expressed its readiness to negotiate with the Union of Arab Associations for the joint implementation of this project. As part of the Russian-Arab University at VSU, classes will start in September 2010 at the following faculties: History, Journalism, linguistics, Pharmacology, and Computer Science.

The Center for Arab Studies was also established at Kazan State University in 2008. The Egyptian Embassy presented him with electronic equipment. The opening ceremony, held in June 2008, was attended by diplomats from a number of Arab countries, as well as representatives of the Russian scientific community. The Center will provide assistance in learning the Arabic language, translating and publishing books, and promoting Arab culture and Islamic values.

What is new in our work is the publication of works by researchers of the East who are not employees of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The monograph of the prominent Russian diplomat A. M. Belonogov "Ambassador to the land of Pyramids" (Moscow: IV RAS, 2008, 368 p.), dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Egyptian President H. Mubarak, and the monograph of the political scientist A. V. Ryasov "Political concept of M. Gaddafi" (Moscow: IV RAS, 2008, 328 p.) are published. on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Among the plans for the coming years, the Russian Sahara project (2009-2010) - the first research and search expedition to the battle sites of the Second World War in North Africa, dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory-should be notable. Organizers: The Organizing Committee "Russian Carthage", the Library-Foundation "Russian Abroad", the Russian Automobile Federation and the Scientific Center "Russian-Arab Dialogue" of the Institute of Internal Affairs of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The project is supported by the Embassies of Tunisia and Egypt in Moscow. The main information partner is the Novosti Press Agency. Three stages are planned: the 1st stage (March 2009) - Tunis, "Memory Watch" - events to perpetuate the memory of Soviet soldiers who died in 1942-1943 in the sands of the Sahara. Search and burial of the remains of soldiers, search for "missing persons", opening of the obelisk at the battle site, where the "memory capsule" will be buried. It is also planned to transfer art materials intended for the painting of the Orthodox Church of the Resurrection of Christ, built in 1956 at the expense of Russian sailors in the Tunisian capital, and lay wreaths at the Borjel Russian cemetery in Bizerte and in the city of Tunis. Tunis, in the burial places of the sailors of the "Russian squadron" (33 flags that stood at Bizerte in 1920-1925). We also hope (with the support of Russian and Tunisian government agencies) to open the Museum of Glory of the Russian Navy and the House of Russian-Tunisian Business and Cultural Cooperation in Tabarka (north-east of Tunis) in the house of the late Captain of the 2nd rank Nestor Monastyrev.

Phase 2 (October 2009) - Libya: same tasks as in Tunisia: search and burial of the remains of Soviet prisoners of war used in the construction of military infrastructure facilities by E. Rommel's German corps, measures to perpetuate their memory, search in oases for the descendants of our citizens who fled across the desert and found shelter with Bedouins (according to some sources, more than 7 thousand people).

Stage 3 (March 2010) - Tunisia-Libya-Egypt. Installation of memorial monuments to Soviet soldiers who died in North Africa. English, French, German, and Italian cemeteries have long been discovered here, but there is not even a mention of Russian participation in that tragedy.

The Organizing Committee has already started collecting and exchanging information available to Russian military and scientific archives, private researchers, and specialist historians. We intend to conduct a survey among those blond Bedouins that our trackers have repeatedly met in Libyan, Tunisian and Egyptian oases. Further study of German, British, American, Italian and Russian archives and archives of North African countries is planned. So far, much is hidden in the papers and in the sands of the Sahara. But sooner or later the secret must come true, which should contribute to the planned expedition.

During the reporting period, the center continued to develop contacts with officials and colleagues from Arab countries.

On March 20, 2008, together with the Friends of Tunisia in Russia society, the center held an evening on the occasion of the national holiday - the 52nd anniversary of the Independence Day of the Tunisian Republic.

which was attended by ambassadors of Arab countries and prominent public figures of Russia. The program included guest performances, a documentary about the Tunisian Republic, and a concert by students. Half a month later, a week of culture of Tatarstan was held in Tunis, which was attended by creative teams from Kazan and other cities of the republic. This was positively assessed by the Arab and Russian public.

On March 21, the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation hosted a round table on the topic "On the situation in Iraq", which was attended by representatives of federal executive authorities, public organizations, scientific and business circles, including Arab scientists of the Institute of Islamic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A comprehensive analysis of the actions of the United States and its allies in Iraq was made, and specific proposals were made to clarify Russian political and economic steps in the region in general and in Iraq in particular.

On April 20, 2008, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubaker Al-Kirby was received at the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with whom the Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Academy of Sciences R. B. Rybakov and leading Arabists of the Institute spoke. According to the minister, Russia has a better understanding of the East than in Europe, where politicians, intelligence officers, and businessmen interfere in scientific research. As vice-rector of the University of Sana'a for 10 years, Al-Kirbi often met with our researchers, and this, the Minister stressed, was of great benefit to both sides. In the 1990s, the old ties were lost. According to al-Kirby, it is necessary to restore relations that were interrupted in the 1990s.

On May 12, 2008, the Scientific and practical conference "Russian-Egyptian Relations during the Presidency of Hosni Mubarak"was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The event was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the birth of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The forum was attended by Egyptian diplomats headed by the Ambassador of Egypt to the Russian Federation Izzat Saad, representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry and other state and public structures, scientists, and journalists. In addition to reports on the life and activities of Hosni Mubarak, which were delivered by retired Ambassadors of the Russian Federation A. M. Belonogov and A. B. Podtserob, as well as V. M. Isaev, A. Z. Yegorin, V. V. Naumkin, and L. I. Medvedko, a presentation of the book "Ambassador to the Land of Pyramids" by A. M. Belonogov and A. Z. Yegorin's monograph "Egypt of our Time", translated into Arabic and published in 2007 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Egypt for Culture. The event was highly appreciated by Izzat Saad, who made a great speech.

On June 5, the APN hosted a round table dedicated to the 41st anniversary of the 1967 Six-day War, which was attended by" eyewitnesses of those days " A. Z. Egorin, V. V. Naumkin, A. O. Filonik.

On June 15, together with the Documentary Thursday Club of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, a presentation of the film "Anastasia" was held in the White Hall of the House of Cinema, dedicated to the last witness to the tragedy of Russian ships that stood for 5 years (from 1920 to 1925) at the Tunisian Bizerte base, 96-year-old Anastasia Alexandrovna Shirinskaya, daughter of one of the captains of military frigates, who left a memory of themselves.

A. Z. Yegorin, appointed by the order of the Minister of Science and Education of the Russian Federation as the chairman of the state attestation commission for accepting examinations for graduates of the Institute of Oriental Studies of Kazan State University in the specialty "Oriental Studies, African Studies", accepted oral papers of 13 young researchers who joined the ranks of Russian Orientalists on March 26-29, and on June 17-21 - theses.

On September 2 and 3, a round table entitled "Correcting the image of Arab-Muslim culture in Russian school textbooks" was held at the Institute of Cultural Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Representative Office of the Cultural Adviser of the Embassy of Egypt in the Russian Federation. A discussion on this topic was proposed by the Egyptian side, for which Prof. Ali Ahmed Shaaban, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translations, Al-Azhar University, and Prof. Abdel Salam Mustafa al-Monsi of Ain Shams University. The Russian side was represented by specialists from the Institutes of Oriental Studies and Social Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Peoples ' Friendship University and other universities in Moscow. Examples of numerous errors and inaccuracies were given in both Russian and Egyptian textbooks. The opinion was expressed on the need to create a joint Russian-Arab scientific and educational council, which would make a verdict on the facts and assessments introduced by the authors into scientific and educational circulation.

On September 23, the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation hosted a round table "Russia - Central Asia and Radical Islam", where A. Z. Yegorin, R. G. Landa, and A. B. Podtserob made presentations. They expressed a number of comments and proposed their concepts on the topic of the Russian Foreign Ministry.-

the current situation in Central Asia in connection with the activation of Islamic radical organizations.

On October 7, activists of the center took part in the international scientific and practical conference "Experience and Lessons of the October (1973) War in the Middle East" organized by the General Staff of the Russian Army, where Russian war veterans, as well as a group of Arab military personnel led by former Syrian Defense Minister General Mustafa Tlas, gave their assessments of the events of 35 years ago. A. Z. Yegorin, L. I. Medvedko, and V. P. Pankratiev represented the Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

On October 28-November 4, an international conference "Cultural Traditions of Egypt and the East: from Antiquity to Globalization" was held in AR, where the Russian-Arab Dialogue Center also contributed.

On March 8, 2008, the following countries announced their intention to cooperate with the Russian-Arab Dialogue Center: Abu Majid Research Center (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), the Sultan Qaboos Center for Strategic Studies in Kuwait, Oman, Damascus and Yemen (Sana'a) Universities, Ain Shams University (Cairo), and the University of Amman (Jordan). Our versions of the protocols on scientific cooperation were sent to them.

On November 1, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev invited Professor Alexander Egorin to the Kremlin for an official breakfast in honor of Muammar Gaddafi , the leader of the Libyan revolution, who was in Russia on an official visit.

The center's activists regularly participated as experts in meetings of the International Affairs Committees of the Federation Council, the State Duma, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and the Presidential Security Council. A number of events were held jointly with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Russian-Arab Business Council, the Russian Imperial Palestinian Society, the Writers ' Union of the Russian Federation, the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation, the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, the Agency for Cooperation with the CIS and Russian Abroad, departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and other government structures, with television programs of leading Russian channels, ITAR-TASS and APN, with Arab media.

The Scientific Center thanks the Embassies of Arab countries in the Russian Federation for their cooperation in 2008.

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