Indonesia and the United Nations Friendship University in Moscow

Moscow, MINA – The establishment of the Russian Nations Friendship University or the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow cannot be separated from the history of Indonesia-Russia (Soviet Union) relations.

This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus M. Wahid Supriyadi when he was appointed as one of the presidiums at the Round Table with Representatives of the Embassies of Foreign Countries and Foreign Graduates, on the RUDN campus, Moscow, Friday.

The meeting was attended by the ranks of RUDN academics, Ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies in Russia, Russian government officials and a number of foreign countries, RUDN alumni of foreign nationals.

There also was presented the heads of student associations of foreign countries at RUDN, including the Chairperson of the Indonesian Student Association at RUDN Tiara Mandalika.

According to Wahid, the establishment of the RUDN was not only a history of young and developing nations, such as Indonesia, but also showing the importance of developing human resources to make developing countries move forward.

On February 21, 1960, or just 16 days after the RUDN was established, at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, the Chair of the Soviet Union’s Council of Ministers, Nikita S. Khruschev, for the first time conveyed to the public that the Soviet Union Government had decided to establish the Peoples Friendship University in Moscow.

The establishment of the university was intended to help prepare national cadres from African, Latin American and Asian countries. After that, many students from countries on the continent, including Indonesia, studied at the university.

“I am honored that Indonesia, especially Gadjah Mada University, where I have studied, has become a part of this history,” Ambassador Wahid said while delivering his remarks at the Round Table. (R/Sj/R04)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)