ISESCO representative in Russia Sayeed Kyamilev read out the welcoming address of H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO Director General and FUIW General Secretary. Below are the excerpts from his letter.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Muslims living on its territory gave a sigh of relief, peace and confidence instilled their hearts, they regained the right to freedom, dignity, justice and life in peace and security. The situation today is completely different from the past.
The Soviet Union was replaced with new independent states, and five of them have Muslim majorities. They built a new relationship with Russia based on trust and respect, on mutual respect for economic and political interests, and security that relies on cooperation agreements in line with international law.
As for Muslim groups in Russia such as the Chechen people, Tatar people or Dagestan people, they established republics with a legal status that suits their future aspirations and necessities as part of a single state.
Russia’s international political clout is defined by its stability as a state. The Islamic world is a civilizational Muslim bloc whose influence spreads as far as the newly set up independent Muslim republics and – to a certain extent – Russian republics with a Muslim majority, which implies stronger relations between Russia and the Islamic world across a broad range of issues
Russia and the Islamic world have shared interests, that is why they need to foster a broader and more multi-lateral cooperation, not just economically, but diplomatically and politically so that we can contribute to international peace and security, protection of the rights of nations, increasing tolerance between countries and nations and raising the mutual value of dialogue between cultures, civilizations and groups preaching different religions.
Terrorism has become a global challenge – concerted efforts at every level are needed to defeat it and build a solid foundation for peace and security, to establish the necessary conditions for the expansion of Russian-Islamic ties based on the UN Charter and relevant agreements and international declarations for the prosperity, wellbeing and decent life for all the nations in peace.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"