A solemn meeting was held in the Russian Academy of Sciences to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for African Studies. The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Ilyas Umakhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Igor Morozov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Olga Timofeeva, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nickolay Makarov and other honorary guests.
The solemn meeting was also attended by the heads of diplomatic missions from 25 countries, including Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ihab Nasr.
Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies, Associate Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Grand PhD in Economic Studies highlighted in her speech the importance of the institute in the context of relations between the USSR and the African continent.
“Our Institute had been established in 1959, a year before Africa Day when 17 African states became independent. The Institute was established in order to study Africa: its economics and culture. At the same time very important political issues between our country and the African continent were being studied”, Irina Abramova said.
On the occasion of the memorable date, a congratulatory telegram from the Kazan Federal University was sent, which emphasized an important role of the Institute in building relations with the Muslim community.
“For Kazan University your achievements in the field of Islamic Studies are the most important as the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”, established on behalf of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, is headed by the President of the Tatarstan Republic Rustam Minnikhanov”, the telegram says.
All speakers of the meeting pointed out the contribution of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences to establishing bilateral communication between the Eurasian community and African countries. The speakers expressed their confidence that fruitful work of the Institute would further contribute to the development of dialogue and exchange of cultural experience between Russia and states of the African continent.
The press-service of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”