Bahia Hariri granted honour

Lebanese MP Bahia Hariri Beirut – Riyad Schumann The Russian Academy of People Diplomacy has granted Lebanese MP Bahia Hariri honourary membership in recognition of her work in education, cultureto and strengthening Russian-Lebanese relations. Hariri received the membership by the president of the Academy, Flora Maksumova, who visited her in Majdelyoun at the head of a joint delegation from the Academy and the Russian Cultural Centre. The delegation included the head of the cultural department of the Academy, Nadia Kondra Shufa, the president of the Russian Cultural Centre, Kairat Ahmedov and the director of the foreign relations of the centre, Tarek Shoumann, in the presence of the member of the administrative board of the association of Russian University and institute graduates, member of the municipal council of Sidon, Mohammed El-Said and his wife. During the meeting, Maksumova informed Hariri about the objectives of the academy and its activities in order to strengthen relations with people through education, culture, heritage and art. She also indicated that the academy was "not an institution in the sense of the academic and university meaning, but a non governmental organisation cooperating with Russian diplomatic ambassadors and missions around the world". Ahmedov thanked Hariri for providing the Russian Cultural Centre the opportunity to establish a cultural activity during the week of "the international festival of Soviet and Russian University and institute graduates" in Sidon, hoping it would be the first step in promoting cooperation between the Centre and the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development. During the meeting, Hariri and Maksumova exchanged souvenirs. Hariri presented to her the book of Sidon, the ancient city, while Maksumova gave her a traditional Raussian gift. The president of the Russian Academy along with the delegation attended the concert of the Russian Balalaika band in Sidon. The concert was organised by the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development in collaboration with the Russian embassy in Lebanon, the Russian Cultural Centre in Beirut and the Raduga Association.