Message from the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference His Excellency, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, to the participants of the first meeting of Group of strategic vision “Russia – Islamic world” that took place in Moscow on March, 27-28, 2006.
I would like to welcome you all at the first meeting of Group of strategic vision: “Russia – Islamic World.”
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers of this meeting and the warm greetings to Academician Yevgeny Primakov, whom I would like to wish success in the chairmanship of this important meeting and to thank him for the timely selection of such an important topic.
The Russian Federation is a great country that has deep roots in history; it has appeared as a major world power and a modern prosperous nation in the XVIII century.
Russia’s relations with neighboring Islamic states throughout the history have experienced the ebb and flow, as usually happen between neighboring countries. At the same time, Russia has become home to many Islamic nations and communities that formed the second largest population group after followers of Russian Orthodoxy.
In this regard, we must remember that when the OIC was formed in the late 60-ies of the last century, the Soviet Union was one of the two superpowers of the world and an important driving force, which determined the shape of the then world’s order. During this period, the Soviet Union was defending the views of Islamic world in relation to its most important issue, namely, the question of Palestine.
Today, the vicissitudes of life have changed course of events and brought humanity in an era of globalization, aimed at overcoming the economic barriers and the free flow of ideas, goods and services. Currently such progressive values as human rights, cultural diversity, freedom of expression, tolerance, equality, freedom of religion, and so on are gaining strength and becoming dominant.
Humanity is increasingly paying attention to these values and we, the representatives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, are considering Russia as a friend, an observer member of the OIC and reliable partner in order to continue the policy of supporting the Muslim world at the international level and to create conditions for the solution of urgent problems.
By joining the family of the OIC and paying more attention to equitable targets of the Muslim world, which this meeting shows, Russia is clearly opens a new page in its relations with the Muslim world.
Today, when the OIC is trying to ensure the rightful place of the Muslim Ummah, the fact that Russia is joining the OIC and will help us to promote the just cause of the Muslim Ummah inspires us and gives the strength.
Islam carries the message of peace, compassion, recognition of the rights of the other hand, equality and justice. OIC, which is the mouthpiece of the Muslim Ummah is going to create an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and harmony between Muslims and followers of other religions in Russia and beyond its borders, and around the world.
We appreciate the efforts made by the Russian government to maintain good relations with Islamic world. Such serious efforts can be beneficial to both sides and, of course, will give good results, and will make a significant contribution to the maintenance of peace, security and prosperity.