Peres leaves for Russia to meet Putin, Jewish groups

President to join Russian counterpart in opening Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
President Shimon Peres in holiday greeting 370 (photo credit: Screenshot)
President Shimon Peres in holiday greeting 370
(photo credit: Screenshot)
It will be a reciprocal state visit in more ways than one when President Shimon Peres arrives in Moscow on Tuesday.
Peres will join Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in opening the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center. The museum, according to a Kremlin press release, was built with Putin’s support, which was forthcoming as far back as 2007.
Putin was in Israel in June for the unveiling in Netanya of a monument to Jewish soldiers who served in the Red Army during World War II, and was subsequently feted by Peres with a state dinner at the president’s official residence in Jerusalem.
Peres will have an opportunity to meet with a large representation of the Russian Jewish community at a “Salute to Israel” event on Wednesday.
While in Russia, he will also receive an honorary professorship from the Russian Academy of Sciences.
On Thursday, following the inauguration of the museum, Putin and Peres will hold a working meeting in the Kremlin meant primarily to strengthen strategic relations between the countries, and to discuss regional matters in the Middle East and North Africa. It is anticipated that Peres will press the Iran nuclear issue with Putin to an even greater extent than he does with other world leaders.
The president is due to return home on Friday.