Russia’s relations with the countries of the Middle East, which span several centuries, can undoubtedly be called the history of mutual respect and cooperation. The Middle East has historically been and remains in the sphere of Russia’s special interests. The motives of our Middle East policy have changed in different periods of history, sometimes radically. Russia’s activity in the Middle East has had ebbs and flows, but this trend has never become secondary in Russian politics.
Today the Russian Federation is extending a helping hand to its Arab friends, realising that mutual interests with the Arab world can be invested more both economically and politically, especially since relations between the two sides are based on mutual respect, and not on the «cowboy culture», as was the case with relations with the West. As Anna Akhmatova once wrote: «The West slandered and believed itself. And it splendidly betrayed the East.»
Russia is one of the few countries that manages to maintain a balance in relations with the Near East states even in the most difficult times. This is Moscow’s advantage in pursuing its own policy in a region that has long become truly close to us.
The East and mysterious Persia in particular attracted the attention of great Russian poets, who sought inspiration in Oriental motifs. These are Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Griboyedov, Ivan Bunin, Konstantin Balmont, Sergei Yesenin, Nikolai Gumilev… Not all of them were lucky enough to visit Persia, but still it fascinated them for many years. The treasury of world poetry contains numerous wonderful poems, which transcend time – a unique Oriental casket.
In this special issue of the Russian Mind magazine devoted to relations between Russia and the Middle East we tell our readers about the outstanding Soviet and Russian diplomat Yevgeny Maximovich Primakov, who was a unique Orientalist and Arabist. He knew everything and everyone. It’s no wonder that he named one of his numerous books, Confidential: The Middle East on Stage and Behind the Scenes.
This geopolitical region, with almost half a billion inhabitants who speak sixty languages, is called mysterious and beautiful, wise and inscrutable, great and enigmatic… But the key word for us is “near” (In Russian, the term “Near East” is also used for the area that is known as the “Middle East”). The “Near East” in every sense.
By Leonid Kolpakov
