Mintimer Shaimiev: "Thank the Almighty, Islam is not blamed for the global financial crisis"

October 27 saw the ceremonial opening of the 4th meeting of the Starategic Vision Group "Russia - the Islamic world" taking place in the Jeddah Conference Palace.

The official start of this influential forum that brought together representatives from twenty countries was made by the co-chairman of the group, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and the Minister of state on international affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Nazar Obeid Madani.

In his speech of welcome, Dr. Madani said: "We highly appreciate Russia's interest to development of long-term and multi-faceted cooperation with the Islamic world."

As the head the of Russian delegation, Mintimer Shaimiev has read out to the participants of the meeting the message of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that marked continuous development of interaction between Russia and the countries of the Muslim East, "preserving high dynamics".

The Tatarstan President expressed cordial gratitude to the Custodian of the Two holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz for unexceptionable organization of the forum and conveyed a warm greeting on behalf of the people of Tatarstan to the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.