The traditional annual meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" was held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on November 23-25, chaired by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov. We talked to the representative of the Chechen Republic and learned what issues on the global agenda are relevant today and why Muslims play a major role in the further development of the Russian state.
"The impressions of this meeting are global. It is worth noting that Jeddah ranks second in terms of diplomatic representation of the countries of the world after New York. It is pleasant that major issues of Islamic development and cooperation within the framework of this religion between a great number of states of the Middle East, South-East Asia, Central and Middle Asia, Maghreb countries and Russia, which is a homeland for almost 30 million representatives of Ummah of Prophet Muhammad, were brought to such a global level", said Dzhambulat Umarov, Deputy Chairman of Chechen Republic Government.
According to him, the issues that formed the basis of the discussion at the meeting are that necessary addition based on Russia's vast experience as a state that has developed within itself the three greatest monotheistic faiths, among which Russian Orthodoxy and Russian Muslims have a special role.
"In terms of infrastructure, the construction of mosques, and projects to develop peaceful, traditional Islam, which has been developing here practically since the beginning of the state's existence, from the era of Kievan-Novgorod Rus' to the present day, Islam is an integral part of Russian reality. To consider the idea of the Russian world without the Islamic factor is an untenable project. The reciprocal influences of the great cultures and civilizations due to the mutual influence of the peoples and ethnic groups professing different religions on the territory of the Russian Federation is the basic principle and core of Russian statehood," added the Chechen representative.
Among the issues raised at the annual meeting of the Group were the threat to global security posed by some terrorist organizations, which, under the guise of Islam and with its great humanistic slogans, try to implement their geopolitical projects; the mutual influence of cultures; correct adaptation; work on terminology in different areas of communication; media and social networks, where words like "Islamism," "Islamists," "jihad" require a thorough approach. Each of these points, according to Dzhambulat Umarov, should be actualized.
"The gradual adaptation and implementation of the project of Islamic finance work on the territory of the Russian Federation is also of particular relevance not only for Russia, but also for the entire Islamic world. Those principles, which form the basis of the Islamic financial system, according to my deep conviction, should benefit the Russian economy, which is itself multi-economic. There is nothing terrible in the fact that in our country there will be Islamic banks and halal infrastructure will develop. It would be good if we raise a pleiad of Russian businessmen who, on the basis of basic principles of Islamic economy, will strengthen Russia's economic sector," Umarov said.
The representative of the Chechen Republic expressed confidence that holding such large-scale events where global issues are raised demonstrates the level of the event and Russia's aspiration to further integrate into the Islamic world. "It is not for nothing that our President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is also a Muslim country," our interlocutor concluded.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina
