Israel welcomes idea of opening branches of largest Russian universities in Israel

On Monday, June 25, Russian president Vladimir Putin will arrive in Tel Aviv to participate in the inauguration of a memorial in honour of the Red Army's victory over Nazi Germany in the town of Netanya.

While in Israel, Putin will meet with the highest Israeli officials. The possible topics for discussions between the Russian leader and the Israelis were discussed today during a video bridge between Moscow and Jerusalem, organized by RIA-Novosti.

The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Israel will bring bilateral relations to a new level, the special envoy of Russian President on the interaction with the organizations of compatriots abroad, Alexander Babakov said.

The Israeli Minister of Information and Diaspora Affairs, Yuli Edelstein, emphasized the importance of the opening of the memorial. He recalled the uprising in the Sobibor Nazi concentration camp, led by the Red Army Lieutenant, Alexander Pechersky.

The Foreign Ministry of Israel expects to discuss a wide range of issues with the Russian president during his visit. Among them are the details of the talks held in Moscow between the six international mediators on Iran's nuclear program. The director of the Euro-Asian Department of the Israeli Foreign Minister,Yaakov Livne, noted that Russia and Israel have a good understanding on the Iranian issue.

On the topic of Syria, Livne said that Israel has very limited options on influencing the situation but that it is interested in a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Answering the question of a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza on the idea of opening branches of the most important Russian universities in Israel, Livne said that he supports it and believes that the Israeli education system will easily embrace the Russian education institutions, since many people in Israel speak Russian.