Russia values its long-standing friendship with the Islamic world and is committed to deepening these relations, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during the opening ceremony of the 9th Forum of Young Diplomats from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
"In late June, we will mark the 20th anniversary of Russia’s admission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an observer state. As a major Eurasian power and a civilizational state with a large Muslim population, Russia has always maintained close, trust-based relations with the Islamic world. We continue to broaden cooperation with Muslim countries across a wide range of areas," Lavrov said in a video address.
The forum is being held as part of the 16th Russia–Islamic World: KazanForum, a major platform for economic and cultural dialogue between Russia and OIC member states.
Lavrov emphasized the shared principles that unite Russia and the Islamic world, including "a common commitment to building a sustainable, multipolar world order based on universally recognized norms of international law, respect for cultural and civilizational diversity, and the rejection of neo-colonial practices—particularly the imposition of unilateral sanctions."
The Forum of Young Diplomats of OIC Countries has been held in Kazan since 2016, organized by the Russian Foreign Ministry's Council of Young Diplomats, in cooperation with the Academy of Youth Diplomacy and the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, this year’s forum is themed “Victory Diplomacy”, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic. The event will bring together around 50 representatives of foreign ministries and policy experts from over 20 OIC member states, who will exchange views on a wide range of topics amid the emergence of a new global security and diplomatic architecture.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials