On January 20, 2021, Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision Russia - Islamic World, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Farit Mukhametshin received High Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos during his visit to the Russian Federation on January 17-23, 2021. An informative exchange of views on the development of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and the prospects for establishing a partnership between the GSV Russia-Islamic World and the UN Alliance of Civilizations took place. At the same time, both sides stressed that the proximity of the tasks facing both organizations in the interaction of cultures and civilizations creates a good basis for mutual support of activities and, in particular, the implementation of youth programs.
Miguel Moratinos emphasized that the UN Alliance of Civilizations is interested in such cooperation as improvement of perception between the Western and Arab-Islamic civilizations as well as in the broader context including Russia, China and other major world countries. In this regard, he thanked the leadership of the Group of Strategic Vision for their willingness to initiate practical steps in this direction within the framework of the statutory activities of the organizations.
For his part, Farit Mukhametshin told his interlocutor about the development of contacts between the Group and various international organizations, in particular the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Our participation in celebrating the first International Islamic Art Day on November 18, 2020, and the important for the whole Islamic world project of creating a Museum of Islamic culture in St.Petersburg were also presented.
The parties have agreed to continue the started contacts, especially in light of the preparation for the World Conference on Inter-religious and Inter-ethnic Dialogue to be held in Moscow on May 22, 2022.
The meeting was also attended by Nihal Saad, Chief of Cabinet for the UN High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations at United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; Konstantin Shuvalov, Ambassador at Large, Special Representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for interaction with the Alliance of Civilizations, Special Representative of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs for interaction with organizations of Muslim states; Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Center in Moscow; Edward Zalyalov, Acting Head of the Non-Governmental Affairs Department, UN Information Center in Moscow; and Vladimir Kuznetsov, Head of the UN Office in Moscow.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"