The EAJC attended the reception marking the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Russia and Israel

Photo: Kovalenko-Zernopolsky Law Office

On November 18, 2021, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva hosted a formal reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the State of Israel. The event was held with the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the Kovalenko-Zernopolsky Law Office, and the Russian Jewish Congress.

The reception was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, Minister of Construction of Israel Ze'ev Elkin, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology of Israel Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Fetisov, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Igor Butman, President of Ben-Gurion University Professor Daniel Chamovitz, alongside other politicians, diplomats, academics, community leaders, and representatives of Russian-Israeli enterprises and organizations. Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, delivered a special address to the assembly.

During the reception, Ben-Gurion University and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on academic cooperation.

"A milestone in fostering diplomatic relations between our nations is the joint academic study of our histories. In 2015, the governments of Russia and Israel, backed by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, signed a declaration to publish the second volume of Soviet-Israeli diplomatic archives covering the period from 1954 to 1967. These source materials offer invaluable insights into a highly complex period of relations between the Soviet Union and the State of Israel. This initiative represents an essential component of modern partnership development," stated Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, in his address.