Lecture Explores Palestinian-Russian Relations

Birzeit University’s Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies held on July 25, 2013 a lecture on “Russian-Palestinian relations; Russia's role in the Middle East peace process," delivered by the Palestinian ambassador to the Russian Federation Fayed Mustafa.
Ambassador Mustafa overviewed the history of Palestinian-Russian relations, starting with the year 1974, when the representative office of the Palestine Liberation Organization was opened in the Soviet Union, marking a turning point in the relationship between Palestine and what was the USSR at that time.
In 1990, Palestinian representation was elevated to that of an embassy in Moscow when Russia became one of the first countries to recognize the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
"Russia played positive roles on behalf of the Palestinian cause through its membership in the Quartet and UN Security Council, as Russia has the right to veto," Mustafa said.
Institute director Abdul-Karim al-Barghouthi said that this lecture is part of a series of talks on diplomacy, which seek to explain aspects of diplomatic relations to the students.
Vice President for Administrative Affairs Adel Zagha received the ambassador and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Birzeit University and Russian universities.