13 Sep 2019 18:28

Putin to speak before Keren Hayesod conference next Tuesday - Kremlin

MOSCOW. Sept 13 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak at a conference of the Israeli foundation Keren Hayesod and meet its leaders on September 17.

"Moscow will be hosting an international conference of the Keren Hayesod foundation for the first time. This is an international organization of Jewish diasporas across the world which raise donations and investment for Israel," Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told journalists on Friday.

Set up by the World Zionist Congress in 1920, "this powerful organization has offices in 45 countries and is currently headquartered in Jerusalem. Essentially, this organization is the main source of funding programs in various countries which support the international Jewish community in various fields," Ushakov said.

The organization includes quite famous and influential people; the Moscow venue was chosen at its own initiative, he said.

"Our president will speak before attendees of the conference and then briefly meet with its leadership representatives," Ushakov said.

The topic was discussed yesterday between Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was "very highly appreciative of Russia's having agreed to host this conference in Moscow, and gave a particularly high estimation of our president going to speak before its attendees and meeting with the leadership" he said.

It has become traditional in recent years to meet the leader of a hosting country, he said. "This organization has previously met with [former U.S. president Barack] Obama, [former Italian prime minister Silvio] Berlusconi, and [former king of Spain following abdication] Juan Carlos," Ushakov said.