On 18 December, World Arabic Language Day, established by the UN's Department of Public Information in 1973 was celebrated at VSU. The delegation from Middle Eastern countries included Majid Al-Kinani, Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in the Russian Federation, and Hussein Jumma Mubarak, Assistant to the Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation for International Relations.
The official meeting dedicated to World Arabic Language Day was held in the conference hall of the main university building. VSU Rector Dmitry Endovitsky addressed the participants of the meeting with a welcoming speech. He noted that representatives of Arab countries have traditionally studied at VSU and many of them received academic degrees. Voronezh State University also actively cooperates with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
VSU Rector wished the participants to hold a productive discussion and expressed confidence in the significant role of the meeting in further strengthening of the relations with the Arab world.
After that, an open lecture dedicated to the role of the Arabic language in the formation of world structures was delivered by Majid Al-Kinani. Professor Alexander Miroshnikov, Head of the Department of the World History and Oriental Studies at the Faculty of History, presented a report “Arabic studies at Voronezh State University: current state and prospects”. Vladimir Rodionov, Head of the International Education Institute of Voronezh State University, talked about the training of students from Arab countries at VSU. Students and lecturers from the Faculty of History, the Faculty of Romance and Germanic Philology, and the Faculty of International Relations, as well as VSU students from Arab countries participated in the conference.
The celebration of the World Arabic Language Day began at the Faculty of History of VSU. The discussion of the memorable date and prospects for cooperation between VSU and universities in Arab countries continued with the participation of Majid Al-Kinani and Hussein Jumma Mubarak as well as the Dean of the Faculty of History Vladimir Glazyev and Deputy Dean Svetlana Solodovnikova. Alexander Miroshnikov, Head of the Department of the World History and Oriental Studies and other members of the department, including Associate Professor Irina Shishkina, Associate Professor Maxim Kirchanov, and Associate Professor and Head of the Voronezh regional public organisation Russian-Iraq Forum Mohammed Jamil also participated in the discussion.
Vladimir Glazyev, DSc in History, Dean of the Faculty of History, Professor Alexander Miroshnikov, Head of the Department of the World History and Oriental Studies, and Associate Professor and Head of the Voronezh regional public organisation Russian-Iraq Forum Mohammed Jamil delivered their speeches at the official meeting, As part of the celebration of World Arabic Language Day, students from the “Oriental and African Studies” programme gave a vibrant theatrical performance, sang songs, and talked about the traditions of the countries they study in Arabic.
The event was concluded with tasting national dishes of Arab countries which attracted all the guests and participants of the meeting.
