In 2020, despite the limitations associated with the pandemic, the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" continued its active work aimed at assisting the efforts made on the state level to find new, non-standard approaches to solving problems of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic countries.
The statement was made by the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) "Russia - Islamic World", Farit Mukhametshin, speaking at a meeting of the leadership of the Group of Strategic Vision (GSV) "Russia - Islamic World" with ambassadors of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The events during 2020, he said, were timed to important anniversary dates. First of all, it is the 15th anniversary of Russia's participation as an observer at the OIC.
"This fifteen-year period of close contacts between Russia and the Islamic countries has been full of important events for our country and the OIC member states," the parliamentarian stressed. At the meeting of the Group in Ufa, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the OIC, the high level of development achieved in these relations was noted.
The main activities of the Group last year were to hold, despite the pandemic, important forums, conferences and meetings with topical issues on the agenda.
In February 2020, the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy (BIA) was held. First Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia Sergey Kiriyenko was elected Chairman of the Board and President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov was elected Deputy Chairman.
A wide response was caused by a videoconference held by the Group in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Russia to the OIC and the Embassies of Russia and Kazakhstan in Saudi Arabia on the theme: "At the origins of modern diplomatic relations with the Islamic world: the life and destiny of Karim Khakimov and Nazir Torekulov".
At the Kazan International Festival of Muslim Cinema, 629 films from 63 countries were presented. The Group granted traditional awards to the winners of the special competition, dedicated to the dialogue of cultures.
The Aitmatov Readings Forum for the first time was organized by the Group on the theme: "Russia and the Islamic World: the role of traditional values in maintaining cultural diversity".
In addition, the Group participated in the celebration of the first International Day of Islamic Art.
"This new date in the international UNESCO calendar symbolizes another important step towards the world's recognition of the importance of Islamic art, through which Islamic cultures have made and continue to make their unique contribution to world civilization," Mukhametshin noted.
The Group first established contacts with the Union of OIC News Agencies last year.
A joint international online conference on "Russia - Islamic World: Crossroads of Information Cooperation" was held with the participation of the International Federation of Journalists, the Russian Union of Journalists, ITAR-TASS, the MIA "Russia Today" as well as some foreign agencies.
Among the youth programs Mukhametshin mentioned the IV International Summer School "Bulgarian dialogue of cultures-2020" and the seminar "Youth volunteer movement: the experience of Russia and the countries of the Islamic world".
"Thus, in 2020, the activities of the Group of Strategic Vision achieved positive results in further strengthening partnership relations and deepening economic, humanitarian and spiritual ties. However, the full potential of our cooperation has not yet been revealed, and there is still hard work ahead of us to expand cooperation with the OIC on a wide range - in interreligious and interethnic issues, as well as in general in the development of inter-civilization dialogue," concluded the Deputy Chairman of the GSV"Russia - Islamic World".
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council