Presidents of Russia, Israel agree to continue departmental contacts regarding Jewish Agency for Israel

MOSCOW. Aug 9 (Interfax) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday.

"A number of bilateral cooperation issues, including humanitarian affairs, were discussed with due account of the rich historical heritage of Russian-Israeli relations. The decisive contribution of the Red Army to the victory over Nazism and the saving of the Jewish people from extermination during the Great Patriotic War [of 1941-1945], as well as the positive role of Jews in the public and cultural life of Russia have been mentioned in this context," the press service said.

"The functioning of the organization which represents the interests of the Israeli Sochnut agency [Jewish Agency for Israel] in the Russian Federation has been touched upon. The sides have agreed that relevant agencies in both countries will be maintaining these contacts," it said.

"The commitment to the development of multifaceted Russian-Israeli cooperation has been reaffirmed," the press service said.