Why does Russia occupy an observer status at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation? How important is it for Russia to develop and consolidate comprehensive relations with the Islamic world? These were the questions asked by Special Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ramazan Abdulatipov within the framework of the international forum “Islam in a Multicultural World”, which is taking place in Kazan at the Institute of International Relations of KFU.
Culture and spirituality are the foundation of society
“Back in 1995, I began to negotiate with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. I often came to Jeddah, where I met with the Director General. We discussed the ways how to find Russia’s place at the OIC, since historically our country has been closely interacting with the Islamic world”, the speaker noted. “Moreover, Orthodoxy and Islam are very close to each other because they consider the spiritual beginning to be decisive in human beings”.
According to him, we are witnessing the washing away of large spiritual, cultural and moral potential inherent in Russian peoples by the stream of selfishness and pure consumerism imposed by the West. “Russia has always been a spiritual fortress of the world, but now this fortress is being influenced by neoliberalism and market economy. In the 90-s a destructive model of development was imposed on us by the West. It awakened selfishness, consumerism and baser instincts in people. Culture and morality were gradually relegated to the background”, Abdulatipov addressed the students.
He is convinced that culture, morality and spirituality must always play a leading role in society. “I was probably one of the first ones who paid attention to it in the USSR. “Spiritual and Moral Issues of Inter-ethnic Relations of the Developed Socialist Society” was the subject of my doctoral dissertation, which I defended in 1985”, Ramazan Abdulatipov recalled. This reveals the fact that he has been reflecting on this problem for a long time and knows it from within.
Russia’s influence on the Islamic world is significant
Now that Russia is an observer state at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, we have a great opportunity to pay attention to the spiritual aspects of Russia’s life, as well as to Russia’s influence on the Islamic world – the speaker is convinced. “I also spoke about this at the meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World”, which was held in Ufa last year. Unfortunately, as a rule, Muslims take a defensive position. We should prove to the world that we are not fanatics, not terrorists or murderers, because this kind of attitude towards Islam had been building up for years. Back in the mid XX century, almost 90% of Muslim and African countries were in colonial dependency and any quest for national struggle for their independency was interpreted by the West as the influence of Islamic extremism”, the Special Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summarized. He noted with regret that such stereotypes sometimes took place within Russia too. In this regard, it is extremely important to demonstrate Russia’s positive influence on the Islamic world, as well as to make Russia and Russian Muslims as safe as possible from any kind of extremist and terrorist organizations, which the Middle East and Africa are full of.
Drawing attention to the prerequisites for Russia’s admission to the OIC as an observer state, Abdulatipov noted the contribution made by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who understands the importance of such work. Veniamin Popov, Mintimer Shaimiev and Murtaza Khakimov also provided much help in this good cause. “Remember Vladimir Vladimirovich’s words. He expressed his conviction that “Russia’s participation will not only supplement the bright palette of the OIC, but it will also add to it new opportunities, weight and voice of the large Russian Muslim community, which is part of the global community of Muslims, who are ready for fruitful participation in spiritual, cultural and political life”, the lecturer quoted Putin.
“The effectiveness of our participation in the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation depends only on how purposeful we are in implementing Russia’s interests in foreign policy and how closely we cooperate with Muslim countries in economic and cultural terms”, Abdulatipov drew the meeting participants’ attention. “Soviet Russia was one to initiate the liberation of many Muslim and African states from colonialism. It was us to initiate the adoption of declaration on decolonization of those countries. We ensured the cultural and economic development of those countries, the potential of which should be realized as much as possible”.
There are a lot of opportunities for cooperation with Muslim countries
Summarizing the work done this year by the Permanent Mission of Russia to the OIC, Ramazan Abdulatipov told that a framework agreement had been signed with the OIC. According to this agreement, political consultations between the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the OIC take place annually. Abdulatipov noted that Russia and the OIC had similar views on the main issues of the Islamic world and world politics.
“Unfortunately, we did not use to cooperate with the Islamic world actively. But now we are in a situation, when the presidential and diplomatic levels have been completely implemented and a favorable diplomatic space has been formed. However, many regions, departments and ministries do not fill this space with certain economic and cultural content. And the 15th anniversary of Russia’s admission to the OIC as an observer state is an impetus for our relations to attain a qualitatively new level and to move to a new stage of our cooperation”, Abdulatipov said. He is convinced that there are a lot of opportunities for cooperation with Muslim countries. For instance, ISESCO is UNESCO in the Muslim world – the speaker noted. In addition to it, there are special organizations of rectors of universities in Muslim countries.
“We should not look at the Muslim world as at a backward one. Economic growth of these countries is much higher than that of advanced states”, Ramazan Abdulatipov clarified. “There is no need to copy the Western experience of market economy and liberalism. We need to go forward, taking into account the best practices. Now we are restoring the Islamic vector of foreign policy and Russia’s full participation in the activities of the OIC. Mintimer Shaimiev, Rustam Minnikhanov and Farid Mukhametshin (Deputy Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan and Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision) are at the forefront here. They define the direction of our policy, both domestic and foreign ones. One of the most effective platforms for cooperation in the Islamic world is the KazanSummit International Economic Forum, as well as the annual Kazan International Muslim Film Festival”.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation – 1, 5 billiard people and a great number of areas for cooperation
Natalya Taratinova, Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, spoke in more detail about the goals and objectives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. According to her, the OIC goals largely coincide with the foreign policy development of Russia. “Conflict resolution, the fight against extremism and terrorism, Islamophobia, culture, science and education – this is just a small part of what the OIC member states pay their attention to. In this regard, the range of cooperation for our countries is enormous”, Taratinova is convinced. For this it is enough just to familiarize oneself with the bodies operating under the auspices of the OIC. They include the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, the Islamic Solidarity Fund, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and many others.
“In conclusion, I would like to dwell a little on the recent events organized by the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. These include regular meetings with the OIC Secretary General and his deputies, 8 online conferences, including on the contribution of the Muslim community to the victory in the Second World War, on Karim Khakimov’s role in establishing diplomatic and friendly relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia and on opportunities for information cooperation. In addition to it, together with the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World” we have published a booklet entitled “The Russian Federation and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Outcomes and Prospects of Interaction”.
At the end of the meeting, the students took the opportunity and asked Ramazan Abdulatipov their questions, including the prospects of cooperation between Kazan and Jeddah, the development of the Arabic language and the role of mass media in shaping the image of the Muslim world.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina