Dr. Vitaly Naumkin

President of the Institute of Oriental Studies and Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Graduated from Moscow State University, studied at Cairo University and American University in Cairo. Ph.D., 1972; Dr. of Science, 1981. Professor and Chair, Faculty of World Politics, Moscow State University. In 1991 – visiting Professor, American University in Cairo. In 2003 – Visiting Professor, University of California, Berkeley. Ambassador of Good Will for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations. Author of about 500 publications – books, chapters and articles in Russian, English, French, Arabic and other languages on the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Islam, International Relations, Security Studies, Conflict Resolution. Member of the Scientific Councils under the Foreign Minister of Russia and Security Council of Russia.

Member of the Valdai International Discussion Club. Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Member of the Academic Board of the Russian Council for Foreign Affairs.