On June, 19, 2019 the updated development strategy of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” was presented in the Big Mansion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The speakers of the event were Minister of Foreign Affairs S.V. Lavrov and President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” R. N. Minnikhanov.
In his welcoming speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov noted that the steps taken by the Russian Leadership in order to strengthen traditionally friendly relations with the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had been actively supported by the general public, our regions, especially by those where the majority of the population practiced Islam.
“We are pleased to note that many of our partners from Muslim states have similar attitude. The activity of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”, which, on behalf of President V.V. Putin, is headed by President of the Republic of Tatarstan R.N. Minnikhanov, is of particular importance under these circumstances. The Group will have to solve important, responsible tasks of coordinating the efforts of civil society, business circles, religious associations, scientists, the young, figures of culture and art – those who seek to contribute to the building up of ties between Russia and the Islamic World”, Sergey Lavrov said.
The purpose of the presentation is to present new conceptual aspects of the Group activity to the participants of the event.
At the new stage of the Group activity special attention was paid to the participation of Russian regions in the activity of the Group.
The renewed composition of the Group is: the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, the Republic of Crimea, the Republic of Tatarstan, North Ossetia-Alania and the Chechen Republic.
There was presented the renewed composition of the Russian part of the Group, which underwent significant changes in 2019. Thus, the Russian part of the Group, as new members, includes representatives of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, as well as heads of regions with prevailed part of Muslim population. The Group also includes the newly appointed representative of the Russian Federation in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary R.G. Abdulatipov. Rotation of foreign members of the Group is also expected.
Special attention will be also paid to the questions regarding development of new approaches to enhance inter-civilizational cooperation within the activity of the Group. Chairman of the Group Rustam Minnikhanov noted that “the main object of the Group is to fully contribute to the process of further rapprochement of Russia with the Islamic World on cultural and civilizational basis and to establishment of contacts with the focus on expansion of economic, scientific and technological, social and humanitarian cooperation”.
Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council on Foreign Affairs Farit Mukhametshin in his speech drew the participants’ attention to the conceptual development of the following areas of activity.
Today, all activities of the Group are aimed at enhancing strategic partnership and interaction in spheres of cultural cooperation, including the issues regarding religion, education, science, economic between the Russian Federation and countries of the Islamic World. The Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” is planning to continue long-term cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Joint measures to combat international terrorism, which contradicts the fundamental principles of Islam, are especially significant in the work of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”.
The event was attended by more than 100 hundred people, including ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states, current members of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”, representatives of the Presidential Administration of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and Republic of Tatarstan, the heads of some constituent entities of the Russian Federation, public and religious figures.
Background information:
The Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” was established in 2006 under the leadership of Evgeny Maksimovich Primakov and Mintimer Sharipovich Shaimiev in order to promote the development of relations between the Russian Federation and Muslim countries through inter-cultural and inter-civilizational cooperation. In 2014 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin entrusted the duties of its Chairman to President of the Tatarstan Republic Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov. To date, the members of the Group are 33 well-known state and public figures from 27 Muslim countries, including former Prime Ministers, former Ministers of Foreign Affairs and a number of major theologians of the Islamic East.
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Podkolzina Ekaterina
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