On July 28, 2020, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) together with the Center for Political Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, with the support of the Embassy of Israel in Russia held a closed online seminar “Assessing the Middle East conflicts (Lebanon, Iraq and Libya). View from Russia and Israel”. The event was attended by leading experts and diplomats from Russia and Israel.
The seminar was divided into two sessions: "Political instability in Lebanon and Iraq: View from Russia and Israel" and "Libya: between Turkey, Egypt and others?".
On July 28, 2020, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) together with the Center for Political Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, with the support of the Embassy of Israel in Russia held a closed online seminar “Assessing the Middle East conflicts (Lebanon, Iraq and Libya). View from Russia and Israel”. The event was attended by leading experts and diplomats from Russia and Israel.
The seminar was divided into two sessions: "Political instability in Lebanon and Iraq: View from Russia and Israel" and "Libya: between Turkey, Egypt and others?".
Welcoming remarks were made by Andrey Kortunov, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC); Amb. David Akov, Head of the Center for Political Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel; and Irina Zvyagelskaya, Head of Centre for the Middle East Studies, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) RAS, Professor, Department of Oriental Studies, MGIMO University, RIAC expert.
During the first session reports were made by Nikolay Surkov, Senior Researcher, Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), RIAC expert; Ifat Reshef, Head of Middle East Bureau; and Uri Hazan, Deputy Director for Iraq. The participants of the session discussed Russia’s and Israel’s vision of political and economic instability in Lebanon and Iraq. The topics on the agenda included the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, the prospects for the stability of governments in Lebanon and Iraq, the future of the energy sector in Iraq, as well as regional aspects of Iran-the U.S. confrontation.
Speakers of the second session on Libyan settlement included: Ayelet Levy, Senior Analist for Maghreb, Center for Political Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel; and Andrey Chuprygin, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, School of Asian Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics; RIAC expert. The participants shared their vision of the prospects for the Libyan dialog, discussed the priorities of Egypt and Turkey in the Libyan settlement, and the role of other regional and external players. The session was moderated by Rachel Feinmesser, Head of International Affairs Bureau.
Russian side was also represented at the seminar by Alexey Khlebnikov, RIAC Expert; Igor Matveev, Senior Research Fellow, RAS Institute of Oriental Studies, Senior Lecturer at MGIMO MFA, RIAC Expert; and Ruslan Mamedov, RIAC Program Manager.
