In the conditions of the forced decline in the volume of personal international contacts, such venues as the KazanSummit International Forum, which provides an opportunity to maintain inter-parliamentary dialogue in a bilateral format, play a special role. The round table on inter-religious cooperation discussed how not to lose the existing close contacts and how to consolidate inter-state communication in the new realities.
According to Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, the Federation Council, as a chamber of regions, promotes effective interaction between the subjects of the Russian Federation and regions of foreign countries. ‘In the context of the decline in the volume of international contacts in person due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Federation Council is making efforts to maintain inter-parliamentary dialogue both in a bilateral format and on international venues. At the same time, within the framework of inter-parliamentary cooperation, Senators keep the issue of expanding partnerships between regions, cities and urban agglomerations under constant review’.
The speaker highlighted the fact that in accordance with the legislation the federal centre provides the necessary legal and expert advisory assistant to public authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation in developing international and foreign economic relations, in organizing and conducting negotiations, working out relevant agreements on implementation of international and foreign economic relations and in fulfilling the agreements. At the same time, the potential for inter-regional cooperation has not been fully realized, Karasin is convinced. Russian partners in the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation understand that too.
‘Russia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation are currently cooperating in such promising areas as trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and information cooperation. There is active joint work on the settlement of a number of conflicts in the OIC area, as well as on combating terrorism and extremism. A good practice has been established in developing an inter-confessional dialogue, joint work on human rights issues and protection of family values. Our countries are cooperating on ropical international issues’, Grigory Karasin concluded.
Summing up his speech, the Senator also reminded the audience of the upcoming World Conference on Intercultural and Inter-religious Dialogue in May 2022, organized by the UN and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
According to Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group, inter-regional cooperation is becoming an increasingly sought after direction in the development of international relations and has a huge, often underestimated potential.
In his turn, Ramazan Abdulatipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Russia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, focused in his speech on the fact that the main relations were between regions, not states. ‘I am very pleased that the Federation Council turned out to be true to its traditions, because it is necessary to consolidate relations not only within the Russian Federation, but also internationally’, Abdulatipov highlighted. And the KazanSummit International Economic Forum fulfills the role of an inter-regional forum, on the basis of which a lot of interesting projects emerge and productive discussions take place.
In the Ambassador’s opinion, it is of great importance to pay attention to the fact that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has in its structure a lot of different organizations, which deal with certain issues, whether it is economic, scientific or cultural cooperation. ‘Unfortunately, in fact many ministries and agencies have not yet established cooperation with the Islamic world, with the OIC countries. We must understand that economics, science, scientific and technological development is not Muslim or Christian. There cannot be any religious limits here’, Abdulatipov assured.
The speaker concluded his speech by recalling the existence of UNESCO’s Muslim counterpart – ISESCO, which offers a huge potential for cultural, humanitarian and scientific cooperation with Russia.
The work of the round table was also attended by Lenar Safin, First Deputy of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, Dmitry Kuzmin and Anatoly Shirokov, members of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs, Irek Yalalov, member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, Vladimir Padalko, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bakhyt Sultanov, Trade and Integration Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, representatives of legislative and executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and foreign guests.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina
