Russia to Back Naming Bethlehem on World Heritage List
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=20162

RAMALLAH, June 27, 2012 (WAFA) – Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir
Medinsky said during a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Siham
Barghouti in Ramallah on Wednesday that his country will vote to include the
city of Bethlehem on UNESCO’s International World Heritage of Humanity List.

The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization is expected to deliberate this week Palestine’s
request to include Bethlehem on the World Heritage List.

Medinsky stressed that his country will continue to support Palestine in all
international forums.

He expressed Russia’s interest in cultural exchange and in dialogue with the
Palestinians, adding that work is underway to build a Palestinian cultural
center in Moscow.

Barghouti stressed the strong cultural relations between the two countries,
which were culminated in the opening of the Russian Center for Science and
Culture in Bethlehem on Tuesday and the start of the Russian cultural week
in Palestine.

She considered this a step toward developing further cooperation between the
two countries, which would include giving scholarships for cultural and art
activities, the exchange of delegations and writers, twinning of cultural
centers and contributing toward the establishment of a national library.