This solidarity, rooted in a longing for independence, can play a pivotal role in shaping a new global political and economic order within international cooperation frameworks such as BRICS, the Collective South, and the Collective East, Baklanov said in an interview with Ahram Online.
He praised Egypt's longstanding support for the Palestinian cause and its recent mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. He also urged Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to unify their ranks.
Ahram Online: What were the key outcomes of your visit to Egypt?
Andrey Baklanov: We participated in the 12th Congress of the Asian-African Peoples' Solidarity Organization in Cairo, under the patronage of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Our country and Egypt were among those countries that first had the idea of establishing such an organization in 1955-1956.
The political leadership of both nations, including foreign ministers, decided to revitalize these structures. Egypt and the Russian Federation act as co-sponsors of the organization, sharing a common goal of reactivating Afro-Asian solidarity.
The idea of Afro-Asian solidarity is very powerful. It is based on a shared longing for independence and a sense that we stand on the same side of history. We have always supported the countries of Asia and Africa.
This year’s congress was organized by the Egyptian National Committee and saw broad participation from delegations representing nearly all Arab states, as well as several African and Asian countries.
Participants discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and revive the organization’s historic role.
During the sessions, participants agreed on the need to restore the organization’s working structure and resume its activities in line with current global changes.
They stressed that the spirit of solidarity among peoples can provide an ideological and political foundation for stronger relations between Russia and developing nations, particularly within the frameworks of BRICS, the Collective South, the Collective East, and the Group of 77.
From our side, we emphasized that solidarity with Asian and African nations can play a key role in building a fairer and more balanced global political and economic order.
The congress showed strong support for Russian proposals, which were described as practical and based on a practical vision for enhancing international cooperation. The most notable initiative was the proposal to establish a “transnational media hub” involving member states of the organization.
Our delegation explained that the proposed media centre would provide participating countries with advanced technical capabilities, enabling them to develop their media capabilities and enhance communication between the peoples of Asia and Africa.
We presented a detailed presentation on the project, outlining the centre's objectives, working mechanisms, and the benefits expected from its establishment.
The participants expressed their gratitude to the Russian committee for its constructive initiative and their full support for the proposed project.
The final document highlighted the potential of the Russian proposals and called for deeper media cooperation between Asian and African nations to serve their common interests.
We believe the organization should focus on youth. It must combine the experience of senior diplomats and politicians with the energy of young people. Last week, we held a historic event in Moscow, the first Congress of the Friendship Youth Society between the Russian Federation and the Arab States.
The next Congress of the Asian-African Peoples' Solidarity Organization will be held in Baghdad in April 2026. Baghdad has also been very active. This initiative originated from our Egyptian colleagues.
AO: How do you view Russia’s stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Egypt’s role in the latest ceasefire efforts and the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit?
AB: Egypt has always played a pioneering role in fostering relations between Moscow and the Palestinian resistance. The first visit of Yasser Arafat to Moscow in 1990 was arranged through our embassy in Cairo.
It was a semi-secret visit, organized by the Committee for Solidarity, and turned out to be very successful. Arafat, although visiting unofficially, met with Egypt’s foreign minister and later with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
Our committee played an important political role at that time, and we continue to maintain strong relations with all Palestinian factions. While we sometimes criticize some groups, including Hamas, we have held several meetings aimed at reconciling their differences.
We believe the ongoing division among Palestinians is dangerous and unnecessary, and we continue to encourage unity.
My message is that Egyptians and Russians should continue working together to promote Palestinian unity.
As for the Sharm El-Sheikh summit and the recent American initiative, we see the US plan as a positive step forward. Its first goal is to stop the bloodshed, and the second is to encourage the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
However, this plan is only a beginning and remains incomplete.
Its link to the creation of a Palestinian state is unclear. The concept of a Palestinian state was first developed in Cairo between 1993 and 1996 by six countries: the United States, Russia, Norway, Egypt, Palestine, and Israel. I represented Russia in that process, and the agreement was signed by all six parties. Since then, there has been no further progress on that front.
AO: How do you view the role of the upcoming Russian-Arab summit in strengthening cooperation with Arab countries?
AB: From our committee’s perspective, we are preparing for the summit on two levels: official and semi-official. On the official level, preparations are underway among ministers of foreign affairs and government administrations.
At the semi-official level, we have established a preparatory committee together with our chairman, Mr Umukhanov, and the ambassador of Bahrain, who serves as the dean of the Arab Ambassadors Group in Moscow, along with the Arab League’s representatives in Moscow. This committee will help coordinate social, scientific, and cultural efforts related to the summit.
Of course, the official organization of the summit remains the responsibility of the foreign ministries and embassies, but our role is to support these efforts. We are encouraging a greater focus on scientific and technological cooperation, as education, innovation, and technology are key to 21st-century partnerships.
AO: How does the committee engage with international organizations, such as the United Nations, to promote cooperation and development in Africa and Asia?
AB: We maintain close contact with international organizations, including UNICEF. For example, we organized a major event at the Palestinian Embassy in Moscow to support Palestinian children.
Russia has adopted many Palestinian children over the years, more than a thousand across several regions, particularly in Dagestan and Chechnya.
This initiative, conducted jointly with UNICEF, aims to continue supporting children and possibly establish a medical centre dedicated to their needs.
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