Valdai Club

The Russian-African partnership is the core for a new multipolar world order that would be more fair and just for all. Africa expects a lot from Russia. Historical cooperation between the two and the huge capabilities that Russia possesses confirm its ability to meet these expectations and move forward together to the future, writes Valdai Club expert Nourhan ElSheikh.

The Arab world has matured and become more aware of its interests, and more able to distinguish between friend and enemy in a multipolar world where there is no one arrogant dominant power, writes Valdai Club expert Nourhan ElSheikh.

Faith is power, and it is necessary to use this force for good. The politicization of religion is very destructive. Our will to move together toward prosperity and development can bring about peace, stability and national unity, writes Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University. The article follows up on the Valdai Club’s conference Religious Polyphony and National Unity.

There is no solution to the global grain crisis without Russia. The Western sanctions are not directed only to Russia but actually to the whole world including themselves. World ports have to be opened for the unconditional export of Russian grain. It is also important to exempt money transfers related to payment for Russian grains from restrictions or to find an alternative payment mechanism.

Although the world produces enough food to feed all of its 7.7 billion people, it has been facing a growing hunger problem. With the “American +” sanctions against Russia, the whole world has slipped into a severe food crisis. All countries are threatened, including the Western ones, to different degrees.

The whole world is suffering because of the “US+” economic procedures against Russia. There are countries that will starve. But all countries of the world suffer due to inflation, an unprecedented rise in food and energy prices, serious damage to production and manufacturing, and global recession. That may lead to widespread protests and political instability in many countries throughout the world, writes Valdai Club expert Nourhan ElSheikh.

A century ago, on 28 February 1922, Egyptian independence was declared; the British protectorate was abolished and an independent Kingdom of Egypt was established. It was a dramatic historical development that brought Egypt back to the Egyptians. For the first time in twenty-three centuries, Egyptians were able to decide their own fate.

On March 30, the Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, opened its 10th Middle East Conference. The discussions held during the first day of the conference conveyed several important messages.

As we’ve grown into an atomised world, something has changed within us. In creating a system for individuals and not for the community, we have fundamentally changed people’s capacity to live a non-atomised life, form healthy bonds, and maintain them. This personal psychosocial conflict entails confusion about one's social role and a sense of isolation, writes Valdai Club expert Nourhan ElSheikh.

The Libyan crisis is one of the most complicated. No single conference can settle all the issues involved. TheBerlin conference did not achieve all the expected results, but it prevented the crisis from worsening. It may also be a step ahead in the long road to a settlement of the Libyan crisis.