Tatarstan delegation takes part in “Russia and the Islamic World” conference

International conference “Russia and the Islamic World: partnership for the sake of stability” opened in Moscow on September 24.

Participants discuss a wide range of issues – from development of religious institutions to geopolitical cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries.

The Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev sent a greeting to the conference participants. He indicated that much is done to assist construction of mosques, reconstruction of Muslim architecture monuments in contemporary Russia where millions of Muslims live. The greeting text states: “Russia is developing relations with the Islamic world; and Muslim religious figures make considerable contribution to it.”

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeletdin Ihsanoglu sent a video address to participants. Chairman of Russia Muftis Council, Mufti sheikh Ravil Gainutdin made a keynote report at the conference opening. He reported on the contemporary history of the relations between Russia and the Islamic world. He emphasized that Muslims did all they could within the framework of religious people’s diplomacy in order to draw together Russia and Islamic countries.

The forum is considered to be the largest-scale event organized by the Islamic community in the new millennium. The following officials represent the republic at the forum: Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Culture Zilya Valeeva, Tatarstan Mufti Gusman khazrat Iskhakov, First Deputy Chairman of RT Muslim Religious BoardnRamil Yunusov, Russian Islamic University Rector Rafik Moukhametshi and others.

According to a report by IslamRf.ru, other participants include Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkv, Ingushetia President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov, permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the OIC Kamil Iskhakov, Kazakhstan Mufti, sheikh Absattar hajji Derbisali, Syria Mufti Dr Ahmad Badreddin Khassun, Turkey Mufti Ali Bardakoglu and others.