Strategic Vision Group’s meeting on “Russia – Islamic World: Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values as a Basis for Interreligious Cooperation”

Venue: The Kazan City Hall

Time: May 19, 10:00–11:40

Participants:

Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the “Russia – Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group;

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia;

Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation;

Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation;

Talgat Tajuddin, Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims, Supreme Mufti of Russia;

Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia;

Igor Komarov, Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District;

Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace;

Hamid Hawali Shahriari, Secretary-General of the World Organization for the Convergence of Madhhabs;

Abdullah Al-Matouq, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General;

Hani Khashoggi, member of the Advisory Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;

Din Shamsuddin, Chairman of the Global Centre for Moderate Islam, Chairman of the World Peace Forum;

Izzat Saad, Director of the Egyptian Council for International Affairs;

Taha Aihan, President of the Youth Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation;

Mahmoud Sudki Al Habbash, Chief Justice of Palestine.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin read out a greeting from the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The greeting message spoke about the importance of this forum, the multinational people of Russia, Muslims who have made a significant contribution to the development of international relations with the countries of the Muslim world, the plans to develop and deepen cooperation in all areas, including economic and humanitarian.

The reports of the “Russia – the Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group members that followed included theses about the current political situation: political and economic dictatorship, the collective West’s desire for the unipolar world, immorality and ideological attitudes that run counter to spiritual values and were legitimized by the West as a norm, information wars, the causes of Nazism origination.

Having greeted the attendees according to Islamic canons, Igor Komarov announced that the meeting was devoted to important matters related to traditional spiritual and moral values, because they form a platform for building long-term partnerships between Russia and the Islamic world. Such traditional values as life, dignity, human rights and freedoms, patriotism, civic sprit, service to the homeland and responsibility for its fate, high moral ideals, a strong family, creative labour, priority of the spiritual over the material, humanism, mercy, justice, historical memory and succession of generations shall be protected by the state.

Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chairman of the Group, in his report gave a critical assessment of the international political situation, told about a difficult period for the multipolar world, and Russia’s readiness to defend to the end its right to independent existence in the face of aggressive globalism embodied in American hegemony.

The necessity was mentioned to develop cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world in the field of education, including religious. This will contribute to better understanding of religious values in the context of globalization and civilization-wide crisis. It is important to promote closer contacts between religious and secular educational institutions in Russia and the OIC states, including student and teacher exchanges. Russia views the states of the Islamic world as priority trade and business investment partners.

Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, spoke about the establishment of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace. This international organization that relies on democratic principles builds its own system of operation adopted from international laws and treaties to achieve genuine and sustainable peace for the humankind by spreading a culture of tolerance between countries, sharing experience, practicing the intercultural and interfaith dialogue, organizing meetings, forums and conferences of mutual interest. Its members are 90 parliamentarians from all over the world who adopt laws aimed at promoting global tolerance.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Hazrat Gaynutdin, Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and the Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Russian Federation, preached a sermon on eternal values, such as love for neighbours, mercy, respect for elders, traditional family life which, in his opinion, are the important factors of rapprochement between Russia and Muslim countries.

Hani bin Yusuf Khashoggi, member of the Advisory Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, suggested that the Group shall establish an own organization with a dedicated headquarters and funding by member countries, and elect a general secretariat with functions and powers determined by Rustam Minnikhanov. “We hope that once the headquarters is established, permanent committees will be set up,” he said.

The moderators gave a high appraisal of the “Russia – Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group meeting as an important milestone towards the deepening of a dialogue between the political and religious leaders of Russia and the states of the Islamic world.