Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV, Group) "Russia - Islamic World" and Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, highlighted the Group's efforts to expand its international platform of communication. This initiative aims to facilitate cooperation between public organizations and religious associations from Russia and the Islamic world, fostering inter-civilizational dialogue and intercultural understanding. Mukhametshin made these remarks during a meeting with the leadership of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World" and ambassadors of OIC member states in Moscow.
Mukhametshin noted that the group's activities align with the updated concept of Russia's foreign policy, effective as of March 31, 2023. This concept for the first time includes a section dedicated to the Islamic world, underscoring the growing demand and reliability of Islamic states as partners for Russia in ensuring global and regional security, stability, and addressing economic challenges.
The highlight of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World" activities in 2023 was a meeting themed "Russia-Islamic World: Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values as a Basis for Interreligious Cooperation." This event brought together prominent figures from government, socio-political, religious, and educational sectors from Russia and 56 countries.
The Group discussed a broad range of issues concerning Russia's interaction with Islamic states, with a particular focus on jointly protecting and consolidating shared spiritual and moral values, preserving the historical, cultural, and civilizational heritage of Russia and Muslim countries, and expanding cooperation based on partnership, mutual respect for sovereignty, cultural diversity, and self-sufficiency.
The meeting gained special significance with the address by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', aimed at reinforcing the cultural and civilizational identity of Russia and the Islamic world. For the first time, a special meeting between the Patriarch and representatives of Muslim countries was held within the Bulgarian Islamic Academy.
Patriarch Kirill expressed optimism that the continued development of Orthodox-Islamic interaction would effectively address modern challenges and temptations. He highlighted the immense spiritual, creative, and cultural potential of Christians and Muslims to uphold their right to live according to divine commandments, thereby promoting peace and justice.
Participants' speeches provided a comprehensive analysis of the socio-political and religious landscape of the modern world, noting the significant shifts occurring in the international arena. The emergence of a new, more just multipolar world order that aligns with the majority of humanity's interests was identified as a key development. However, the collective West's resistance to this shift, driven by fear of losing global dominance and the collapse of neo-colonial policies, was also acknowledged. This resistance includes attempts to impose ultra-liberal ideologies that contradict traditional spiritual and moral values, leading to moral decay in Western society.
The Group's annual interactions with the General Secretariat and structural institutions and organizations of the OIC, the Union of News Agencies of the OIC Member States, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and national organizations of Muslim countries have expanded significantly. Efforts are ongoing to enhance inter-parliamentary cooperation with both national parliaments and the OIC Parliamentary Union.
Under the banner of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World", numerous international events, both domestically and internationally, are organized, including the Kazan International Festival of Muslim Cinema, Forums of Young Diplomats and Young Entrepreneurs of OIC countries, Kazan Fashion Day, the International Exhibition "Islam in Russia," International Summer Schools "Bulgarian Dialogue of Cultures," and various conferences and round tables on contemporary issues. Additionally, consultations with leading foreign politicians and religious leaders are part of the Group's activities.
This year, the Group is focusing on discussions regarding the formation of a polycentric world order, following recommendations from the Kazan meeting of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World". Preparations are in progress for a special event: an international conference titled "Russia - Islamic World: A Just Multipolar World Order and Secure Development," scheduled for May 16, 2024, in Kazan.
The conference will include speeches by influential representatives from Russia and the Islamic world, aiming to outline the fundamental principles and parameters for establishing a new, just multipolar world order based on a shared worldview platform of Russian, Islamic, and other world civilizations.
"We operate on the belief that a more safe and just world can only be constructed upon the foundations of natural, traditional, universal human spiritual and moral values, adhering to the principles of unconditional respect for the diversity of socio-political models of sovereign nations as outlined in the current UN Charter. We anticipate that the Kazan international conference of representatives of Russian and Muslim nations could evolve into a permanent international platform. This would provide an opportunity to continue discussing this pressing issue of our era at future conferences, potentially in one of the OIC member countries," Mukhametshin asserted.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council