During the meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World," which is currently taking place in the Kazan City Hall, the chairman of the Group, Rustam Minnikhanov, recalled that at the end of last year, the Group held a meeting in Saudi Arabia. "We are grateful to the host. The results of our meeting in Jeddah were positively evaluated in the Islamic world".
"The topic of today's meeting is "Russian experience in preserving ethno-cultural diversity, interethnic and interreligious harmony - the key to strengthening the common civic identity." Such a conclusion is dictated by the tasks of the Group. The world has entered a period of instability. The erosion of international law is taking place. More and more challenges are coming from terrorist and extremist organizations. The collective West is trying to impose its values. We are grateful that the Islamic countries have not succumbed to pressure. Russia stands for a multipolar world and cultural diversity", Minnikhanov said.
"Numerous "fakes" are created and replicated, but the whole world has seen the unity of multinational Russia. The dialogue of cultures, the installation of interethnic harmony is the civilizational choice of Russia. It is a painstaking work of the state and society. In this context, Tatarstan has been and remains one of the stable regions of Russia. Inter-ethnic and inter-confessional harmony has established itself as a progressive trend in the republic. For centuries different peoples have lived here.
Great attention in the republic is paid to the development of national schools. Traditional holidays of all peoples are held at the state level.
State-religious relations develop positively in the republic. Today the number of religious organizations exceeds 2,000. With the support of Vladimir Putin, in 2017 we established the Bulgarian Islamic Academy, designed to become the highest link of Islamic education", the President of the Republic of Tatarstan emphasized.
During his speech, Rustam Minnikhanov noted the importance of uniting peoples and states, and also said that the implementation of interreligious dialogue programs is a priority in the republic.
"It is worth noting that the implementation of programs aimed at developing interreligious dialogue has become a priority. There is no doubt that the work we do contributes to the formation of Tatarstan as our common home. Considering the great attention Russia pays to preserving its cultural heritage, the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria in 922 is widely celebrated. Key events dedicated to this date were the All-Russian Forum of Tatar religious figures, the laying of the first stone in the construction of the new Cathedral Mosque, "Bolgar Jien", and KazanSummit. Today it is especially important to unite peoples and states. Our Group continues to act as a platform for discussions and the establishment of constructive cooperation between representatives of different nations. We attach great importance to the study of international experience. I sincerely wish you success and a rewarding stay in our capital, the city of Kazan".
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan