From the editor: the updated concept of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic world" was presented in the Large mansion of the Russian Foreign Ministry with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov and the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Group Rustam Minnikhanov, ambassadors of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, representatives of the Russian Presidential Administration, members of the Federation Council and deputies of the State Duma, a number of heads of the federal subjects of the Russian Federation, prominent political and religious figures.
In their speeches, Sergey Lavrov and Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized a demand for the activity of the Group of Strategic Vision, created on the initiative of the outstanding Russian statesman Evgeny Primakov and the first President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, at the present stage of international relations development. Sergey Lavrov stressed that "the activities of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic world", which is currently headed by Rustam Minnikhanov on behalf of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, are of particular importance. This Group has to solve important, responsible tasks on the coordination of the efforts of civil society, business communities, religious associations, scientists, youth, creative community – all those who seek to contribute to the strengthening of relations between Russia and the Islamic world."
Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister
"The steps of the Russian leadership to strengthen traditionally friendly relations with the OIC countries are vigorously supported by the general public, our regions – especially those where a significant part of the population is Muslim. We are pleased to note the similar attitude of our partners in Muslim countries", - Lavrov said.
Speaking about the updated goals and objectives of the Group, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Sergey Lavrov and the diplomats of the Ministry for the active support of the activities of this international non-governmental organization, whose main task is to promote further rapprochement of Russia with the countries of the Islamic world, to maintain equal dialogue and partnership on a cultural and civilizational basis, to establish relations focusing on expanding economic, humanitarian and interreligious cooperation.
Rustam Minnikhanov, Chairman of the Group
Today, the Group consists of statesmen and public figures, representatives of science and business, religious leaders from 33 Muslim countries and 32 Russian representatives.
The Russian part of the Group includes senators and deputies of the Federation Council and the State Duma, who represent various regions of the country, as well as the recently appointed representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ramazan Abdulatipov.
Special attention in the updated approach to the activities of the Group of Strategic Vision is paid to the participation in the activities of Russian regions with a concentration of Muslim population. Today, the heads of Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Crimea, Tatarstan, North Ossetia-Alania and the Chechen Republic, as well as representatives of Spiritual departments from these regions, are invited to the Group. The Group leaders expect that the strengthening of the regional factor in the activities of the Group will raise the level of interregional, interreligious, cultural-touristic cooperation between our countries. The regions of Russia and foreign countries will also have the opportunity to show each other their economic and investment potential and reach a new high level of cooperation in trade, economic and investments.
Progress is being made in a concretization and intensification of foreign representatives' work, including the rotation of one-third of their membership. The involvement of foreign members in the activities of the Group will not be limited to participation in one-time events. Each of them will make a contribution to the common cause, putting forward initiatives to hold events in their countries. At the same time, both Russian and foreign representatives are recommended to take part in various events during the year or to be a part of the forming several permanent councils on current activities of the Group.
Adjustments to the previous approaches to inter-civilizational cooperation were also made. For these purposes holding a special international scientific-practical conference, with the participation of world-known research centers and foundations, professionals and experts, was proposed. This could be the beginning of regular scientific-practical researches in the field of sustainable development of civilizations and contemporary challenges that our states face today. A start was made by the decision to create an Expert-analytical Council headed by the member of the Group, the Research supervisor of the Institute of Oriental Studies, academician Vitaly Naumkin. The Council will prepare regular reports on topics relevant to the work of the Group, followed by the presentation of those reports. The leaders of our countries will be informed about the conclusions and recommendations of the studies submitted by the Council through the members of the Group. We intend to encourage scientific and educational centers of Russia and the Islamic world, especially young scientists, to collectively search for new approaches to preventing and resolving modern crises and conflicts, to counter the ideology of terrorism and extremism, which contradicts the fundamental principles of Islam. The first developments of the Expert-analytical Council will form the basis for the preparation of this International conference on the problems of civilizational dialogue in 2020.
A non-profit Foundation for strategic dialogue and partnership with the Islamic world was established in order to achieve a systematic approach to the Group's activities, as well as to improve the level of planning and quality of the events. The main purpose of the Fund is to finance and organize international forums, conferences, scientific, educational and cultural exchanges, including between young people and students, as well as to support the media and information resources aimed at achieving the goals and objectives of the Group. Among the important functions of the Fund is the opening of its mission, information centers in Russia and abroad. The arrangements to open the first representative office of the Group in the well-known in Muslim countries Cairo University in the Arab Republic of Egypt are being discussed.
The support of humanitarian cooperation will be an important activity of the Group. We believe that the issues of cultivating the attractiveness of traditional moral ideals, cultural and spiritual heritage that have developed in our countries, and their protection, should take priority.
Along with the holding of the already traditional Kazan International Muslim Film Festival, Aytmatov readings "Dialogue of cultures" in a number of countries, we propose to hold an international scientific forum "Islam in the multicultural world", as well as from 2020 to start the project of special tourist routes "History of Islamic culture in Russia and abroad".
Another priority area of the Group's activity is the economic sphere of establishing business contacts in the trade, economic, scientific, technical and investment areas. The international economic summit "Russia – Islamic world": KazanSummit held annually by the Government of Tatarstan within the Group has become traditional. In 2019, the forum was attended by more than 3,800 delegates from 72 countries and 38 regions of Russia. The plenary session was opened with the greetings of President Vladimir Putin.
The Group's leaders, considering the recommendations of KazanSummit, plan to hold a number of other international events such as international conference "Digital economy: prospects for cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world"; annual Forum of young entrepreneurs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Business forum "The Great Silk Road" and more.
We consider the activization of mutual awareness and knowledge about each other as one of the important aspects of the Group's activities. For this purpose, the publishing house "Huzur" is involved in this work. Currently, a new website of the Group has been launched in three languages: Arabic, English, Russian. French, Turkish and Persian versions will be added soon. The international forum of Muslim journalists and bloggers in St. Petersburg is among the key events of this year. The range of books published in Russian and foreign languages by Russian and foreign politicians, public figures, scientists and theologians, as well as the production of "Russian and foreign Islam in faces" documentary videos will be expanded.
Among the primary tasks of the Group is also working with youth, involving the younger generation in our activities. In this regard, we plan to hold youth festivals, meetings and summer camps in Russia and abroad. Holding of international summer camps "Bulgar dialogue of cultures" in Tatarstan and similar events in other regions of the country and abroad, as well as schools of debates for youth on various topical issues will become traditional. The Group leaders will establish a literary student award for the best knowledge of another country culture, as well as for the best literary essay.
This year Evgeny Maksimovich Primakov should have been 90 years old (October 29, 1929). He did a lot to bring Russia closer to the states of the Islamic world. In Russia, this date will be celebrated in a big way: his monument will be installed in the public garden opposite the Russian MFA building. The Primakov Readings, conference are already being held, his works are being published, films dedicated to his activities are being shot. The conference "Model of the OIC" named after Primakov was held on May 2019 through the Group. A number of other celebrations are also planned.
This year, as we know, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Organization of a photo exhibition on the activities of the OIC and an international conference on the role of the OIC in the development of cooperation between the Islamic world and Russia is planned for autumn.
Three annual awards will be actively used to recognize outstanding works and socio-political activities in Russia and the Islamic world, which aimed at maintaining intercultural dialogue and interreligious peace:
-Evgeny Primakov international prize;
- Rustam Minnikhanov national prize;
- Prize for dialogue of cultures in the Islamic world.
Taking steps to update the approaches in its activities, primarily with a view to making more effective use of the capacities and opportunities of our countries to strengthen partnership and dialogue, the Group's leaders set the task of raising to a qualitatively new level the promotion of international cooperation not only in the Middle East, but also in the African-Asian space, considering the dynamics of international relations.
There is a support of maintaining contacts between political figures, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, authoritative scientific and educational communities in the sphere of the cultures and civilizations interaction through the dialogue of elites. Expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Further strengthening of relations with the OIC countries, considering the multifaceted nature of this community, through the establishment of interregional contacts between our countries on both a multilateral and bilateral basis, as well as building a working dialogue with the diplomatic missions of the OIC countries.
To this end, we will continue holding public forums — annual meetings of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia — Islamic world" in Russia and abroad. These forums have become broad intellectual platforms for determining the prospects of cooperation and developing inter-ethnic and interfaith dialogue. In recent years, these meetings of the Group have been held in Moscow, Kazan, Grozny and Makhachkala. Currently, we determine the agenda of the next Forum and hold consultations on its venue in one of the states of the Islamic world this autumn.
Interaction with the Spiritual Administrations of Muslims, official religious structures of both Russia and the states of the Islamic world in the activities of the Group will have a special place. This will make it possible to significantly expand contacts between the civil societies of our states and to open the cultural and religious diversity of our countries to everyone. In this regard, more coordinated assistance will be provided to Russian Muslim organizations and movements in the development of cooperation with reputable international and national Muslim associations, as well as in holding of joint activities to combat extremism and terrorism.
Thus, the activity of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic world" aims to become an important tool of "public diplomacy", to be among those who promote dialogue and partnership between our countries, promote the strengthening of a new more equal world order, preserve and increase the rich cultural, historical and spiritual heritage of our civilizations. We believe that all these are in the interests of our states and peoples and the mutual desire to expand and deepen our historically multifaceted cooperation.
Farit Mukhametshin,
Deputy Chairman the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia – Islamic world", doctor of political sciences