Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov during a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina invited representatives of this country to participate in the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World". The press service of the Russian region's leader said on Wednesday.
Rustam Minnikhanov met with members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, Shefik Jafferovic and Željko Komšić as part of the visit.
"The president [of Tatarstan] spoke about the activities of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World", which he heads on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also invited representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the work of the group. Separately, the president [of the republic] drew attention to the importance of the exchange of best practices," the report said.
Milorad Dodik assured that for his part he would promote the inclusion of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World.
"We see your state as a partner. We are very close in terms of the number of inhabitants and religious structure. I believe peace and harmony is a guarantee of further development," said Rustam Minnikhanov, whose words were quoted by the press service.
Meeting with Sarajevo Imam
During his working trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the head of the Russian region also visited the Gazi Husrev-beg mosque, where he met with Sarajevo Imam and Chief Imam of the mosque Mensur Malkic. He was accompanied at the meeting by Mufti Kamil Samigullin of Tatarstan.
The press service of the Tatarstan President said Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the imam for the reception and congratulated him on the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. During the conversation, the President invited Mensur Malkich to the celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria, which will take place in Tatarstan next year.
The head of the republic said that the President of Russia pays much attention to building relations with the Islamic world. The Group of Strategic Vision "Russia-Islamic World" has been created for this purpose. Rustam Minnikhanov said that during official meetings he will address the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a proposal to include its representative in the group.
According to the results of the 2013 census, 3.83 million people live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) make up half the national composition of the population, and Islam in the country is practiced by 45% of believers. The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque is the most significant architectural monument of the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the first mosque in the world to have electricity.
About the Group
The Group of Strategic Vision "Russia-Islamic World" was established in 2006 under the leadership of Yevgeny Primakov and the first president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiyev, after the Russian Federation joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an observer. It includes 33 statesmen and public figures from 27 countries, including former prime ministers and foreign ministers and major theologians from Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and other states.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan
Based on materials from Tatar-Inform