Over the years of its activity, the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) “Russia – Islamic World” has proven itself as a unique platform, offering an opportunity for prominent representatives from Russia and the Islamic world to seek solutions to the challenges that concern us all. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his message to the participants of the Group’s off-site meeting, which took place in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. The message was read out by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Andrei Rudenko.
This year, the theme of the meeting is “Russia and the Islamic World: Cooperation in the Era of Emerging Multipolarity.”
Lavrov reminded that Russia is a major Eurasian power, a civilization with a significant Muslim population. Russia has traditionally maintained fair and mutually respectful relations with all Islamic countries. “We are united by our firm commitment to the cultural and civilizational uniqueness of the peoples of the world and their natural right to determine their own paths of development and lives. The vast majority of Muslim countries in Asia and Africa are long-standing friends of Russia. We welcome the growing role of these countries in global affairs and their interest in participating in the resolution of global issues, including within the framework of the of Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The inclusion of four Islamic world countries — Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia — in BRICS is symbolic. We expect full coordination on this front with Malaysia, which is acquiring partner status. I am confident that cooperation within BRICS will strengthen Malaysia's position in international affairs.
In recent times, Russian-Malaysian relations have shown high dynamics, particularly in political dialogue at the highest levels. Recent contacts include a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Vladivostok on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, a working visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Kuala Lumpur in July of this year, and the meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation in St. Petersburg in October. We closely coordinate our positions on the international stage. Our interaction with Kuala Lumpur serves as an example of honest intergovernmental communication amid turbulence in the international environment. The global situation is, in fact, becoming neither more stable nor predictable. On the contrary, actions by certain Western countries indicate that they are relying on force and isolation of individual countries, including Russia, as a means of maintaining their global hegemony.
A troubling trend is also evident in the Asia-Pacific region, where the West is attempting to introduce the logic of bloc confrontation. The situation in the Middle East remains extremely complex. The barbaric actions of the Israeli army in Gaza continue to result in the deaths of civilians and exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe. The tragedy in Gaza and the broader Middle East is further complicated by recent developments in Syria, which could have unpredictable negative consequences for the region. We are convinced that normalization of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the entire Middle East can only be achieved through the UN-approved resolution formula, which calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Russia consistently advocates for the formation of a more just, democratic, and multipolar world order based on the full implementation of the UN Charter and its interconnectedness. Our efforts are aimed at improving the quality of economic development and creating conditions for the peaceful resolution of existing conflicts. We call on everyone to consider how to create a robust security system both in Eurasia and in the Asia-Pacific region. The key characteristics of this system should include respect for fundamental principles such as indivisibility of security, sovereign equality of states, immunity from external dictation, and the provision of opportunities for comprehensive development for all. As it seems, seeking answers to the challenges before us should be viewed as part of the joint efforts being undertaken within the framework of the GSV 'Russia – Islamic World',” concluded Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Andrei Rudenko.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry