Working Visit to Ankara | Day One 🇹🇷

Today marks the commencement of the Russian expert delegation’s visit to the Turkish capital. The program, jointly prepared by the Primakov Center and the Russian House in Ankara, will span three days and includes visits to key think tanks and participation in expert discussions on pressing bilateral issues.

🔵Russian Embassy in Türkiye

The day began with a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Türkiye, Alexei Erkhov. Discussions centered on the current state of Turkish foreign policy and the dynamics of Russian-Turkish cooperation.

🔵Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM)

Subsequently, the delegation visited ORSAM, where they engaged in a discussion on “Russia and Türkiye in the Changing Security Architecture of Western Asia.”

Experts exchanged views on the prospects for development and resolution of regional conflicts, with particular emphasis on the Syrian issue in the context of both countries’ foreign policies. A significant portion of the meeting’s agenda was dedicated to analyzing and comparing Russian and Turkish approaches to Middle Eastern affairs.

Tomorrow, the experts are scheduled to attend a conference at one of Ankara’s largest universities. Stay tuned to our publications to be the first to receive updates on Turkish developments!

#türkiye

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Ankara University: A Fusion of Moscow State University and MGIMO with a Turkish Twist

We couldn't resist sharing how Türkiye's largest university, which our delegation visited yesterday, is organized. Spoiler: It involves even-toed ungulates.

A Bit of History

So, Ankara University is the first higher education institution established in Turkey after the republic was founded. It hosts about 45,000 students across 14 faculties. In terms of scale and significance, it can be confidently compared to Moscow State University (MSU). Officially founded in 1946, the roots of its Political Science College, which later became a faculty, go back to 1859. Today, this faculty has many similarities with MGIMO: a somewhat parallel history and a primary mission to prepare cadres for public service.

The campus, designed by a German architect, combines educational buildings, green relaxation areas, and art installations. The interiors are as impressive as the exteriors: walls adorned with photos of alumni from years past and preserved historical documents give a sense of the continuity of academic traditions.

And Now, Let's Talk Cows! Yes, Real Cows! 🐄

One of the interesting features of the faculty is... a collection of cow statuettes! Surprised? So were we.

It turns out that in Turkish slang, the words for "cow" and "top student" sound the same. This amusing coincidence led to the cow becoming an unofficial symbol of the student body. The collection is continuously expanding with figurines from all over the world—ranging from tiny miniatures to substantial pieces, from classic to avant-garde. Moreover, every summer, the faculty holds a festival where real cows make an appearance! Now, that's a true Turkish celebration of knowledge.

It got us thinking—maybe it's time for us to start collecting something equally symbolic?

#türkiye

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