Today in Kazan, before the meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia – Islamic World’, Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia – Islamic World’ Farit Mukhametshin met with Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Centre of Strategic Foresight, and Yasar Yakis, former Turkish Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia – Islamic World’. They discussed the Russian experience of preserving ethno-cultural diversity and inter-ethnic and interreligious harmony as a guarantee of achieving a common civic identity.
Turkey is an important strategic partner of Russia. In the light of attempts by the West to impose sanctions, Farit Mukhametshin and Yasar Yakis discussed the relationship between Russia and Turkey at the meeting.
Farit Mukhametshin told about the history of interaction between the two states: ‘In the 90-s I was Plenipotentiary Representative of Tatarstan to the President of the Russian Federation. I know how Tatarstan recovered in hard times, how it developed and participated in the creation of the structure of foreign economic relations. Fortunately, our first President, respected Mintimer Shaimiev, was at the helm of all this. At the time, strong and mutually beneficial ties with Turkey began to take shape. Today, as Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, I can see how the regions of Russia cooperate with Turkey and note the example of Tatarstan as a pioneer on this path.
Yasar Yakis also recalled Turkey’s experience at the earliest stages of relations with Russia: ‘When I was Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the OIC the topic of Russia joining the OIC as an observer was brought up for discussion for the first time. This status was rightly assumed by Russia, because in this country Islam is an indigenous religious’.
Farit Mukhametshin added that when Russian President Vladimir Putin came to Malaysia 19 years ago with such an initiative, Turkey’s credibility influenced the swift resolution of the issue.
Sharing his experience of working in different Muslim countries, Yasar Yakis noted that it was still difficult to talk about the unity of the Islamic world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa regions. ‘A pinch of salt can be added to this soup by consolidating cooperation between our countries’.
Farit Mukhametshin supported the guest of honor and expressed his hope for close cooperation in this field.
The former Turkish Foreign Minister said he was ready to consider implementing joint Russian-Turkish efforts to preserve strategic stability in the Middle East and North Africa region.
In a subsequent bilateral meeting with the Director of the ISESCO Centre of Strategic Foresight, Kais Hammami, the parties discussed expanding cooperation between Russia and ISESCO, joint activities and exchanges of views on the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia – Islamic World’ line, mutual exchange of the Federation Council/the Group of Strategic Vision and ISESCO delegations to explore the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Russia and OIC member countries (with an ISESCO delegation visiting the Republic of Tatarstan), Islamic education in the Russian Federation and prospects for mutual internships for students and professors of Islamic universities of Russia and OIC member states.
Kais Hammami is Head of UNESCO’s Foresight, Anticipation and Strategic Decision-making Division. Throughout his career, Kais Hammami has worked in many countries and participated in more than 100 international foresight studies. Under his leadership, more than 3 000 people have been trained regionally and internationally.
At the meeting, the scholar suggested the Group’s participation in the research work of ISESCO Centre of Strategic Foresight: ‘To date, our Centre has about 70 projects related to various spheres of life, including the Muslim community. Much attention is paid to youth projects, research in the field of high technology and artificial intelligence’.
In his turn, Farit Mukhametshin, spoke about the research and projects in the sphere of interest of the Group of Strategic Vision ‘Russia – Islamic World’: ‘Our Group has many people who actively work in many scientific fields. The members of the Group are leading experts and represent the best scientific centres and universities in the country. We want to develop the youth sector as well’.
‘The year 2022 coincides with the year of youth in ISESCO, so the topic is very relevant,’ Kais Hammami said, adding that next week the ISESCO team will send projects to the Group on which collaboration is possible already this year.
During the bilateral meetings, Farit Mukhametshin presented the guests of honor with souvenirs, thanked them for the meeting and expressed the hope for further fruitful cooperation.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"