Over the past few years, the number of those who want to learn Russian has been growing in Syria. This year about 20 thousand Syrian schoolchildren are already studying it, Eldar Kurbanov, senior advisor to the Russian embassy in Syria, told RIA Novosti.
Previously, the Russian cultural center opened in Damascus, which was closed in 2013, when the war in Syria began. Russian language courses have been organized there, and music classes will open later.
"People have been coming to us for a long time, all these war years, to open Russian language courses. That's where we started. There is a very big need. The number of students in Syrian schools who have chosen Russian as a second foreign language has reached 20,000. We contribute in every way possible for the development of this direction. We are helping the Syrian side in training teachers," Kurbanov said, expressing hope that in the future full-scale cultural centers will be opened in other cities of Syria.
In general, Kurbanov noted that military and political cooperation between Russia and the SAR is at a very high level but humanitarian ties are also important.
"A bird of bilateral relations cannot fly with one wing," he stressed.
Director of the Cultural Center in Damascus Nikolai Sukhov, in turn, added that work with the Syrian Ministry of Culture on the establishment of such centers may begin soon. He said that the Russian language courses were opened, in particular, "under the influence of the great interest from the Syrians".
Sukhov also explained why the Syrians study the Russian language. Many of them live in mixed families, among them, some adults can already write, read and speak a little. The language is also necessary for many Syrians who do business with Russia. In addition, there is already a certain layer of young people in Syria who are linking their future with Russia.
"We are now studying Russian at school. We are planning to study in Russia. Here we can take preparatory language courses", Uliya Mustfan said.
The base of the Russian cultural center in Damascus is also being renovated. As librarian Victoria al-Ahmad said, the center has already sent an application for the necessary books. Now it has educational literature, dictionaries as well as fiction books for adults and children.
"We have music here: piano, guitar, flute, solfeggio. We are giving moral support to Syrian society. Because people see the opening of the center as normalization of peaceful life. And of course it is a symbol of the humanitarian return of Russia," Sukhov added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Li Liangyong / Zuma / TASS