Speech of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mr. Mintimer Shaimiev, at the Third session of the Group of the Strategic Vision “Russia-Islamic World”

Dear participants of the forum of the international Group of the Strategic Vision “Russia - Islamic world”!

I am glad to see you again. We have met in Moscow, then in Kazan, discussed many important questions of development of the Islamic world, got acquainted with the experience of Tatarstan, the processes occurring in Russia in conditions of revival of Islam.

Istanbul is not just a beautiful city; there are still several symbols combined in it. In the Byzantine epoch, it was the heart of Orthodoxy, and Russia approved its hierarchs in Constantinople. Even patriarchs were sent to Russia from Byzantium.

The founder of Great Bulgaria - one of forefathers of modern Tatarstan –Kubrat-khan was brought up here.

In Istanbul we can find common Abrahamic roots of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; however, here they do not have the contradictions that exist in Jerusalem.

The relations of Russia and Turkey have experienced complex historical situations. Mutual understanding has been growing in the last years due to multi-faceted cooperation of the leaders of both states.

Many things bind Tatars and Turkey together. This is not only about closeness of the language and culture. A number of politicians, who fell out of favor under the Tsar’s rule in Russia, happened to be in Istanbul and made their contribution to Ataturk’s activity. I mean advisers to the first president of Turkey Yusuf Akchuru, Sadri Maksudi and our other fellow countrymen. They felt a wind of change and tried to implement in Turkey what failed in Russia.

The twist of fate is that one of the most outstanding theologians of the twentieth century Musa Bigiev was condemned for his works in the Ottoman Empire. His translation of the Koran into the Old Tatar language was forbidden in Russia in its time and is about to be published soon. And now it is Turkey that promotes conferences and publication of Musa Bugiev’s works, looks after his tomb in Cairo. We are grateful for it.

We might say that all peripetias of the Islamic world are embodied in Istanbul. Istanbul was the capital of the last caliphate, and then it became the place where religion was separated from the state in times of Kemal Ataturk. Today, spirituality is reviving again. It is neither condemnation nor glorification. That was destiny.

The society cannot live without religion even if it is written down in the Constitution. Religion was forbidden for more that seventy years in Russia. Imams were subjected to repression, mosques were demolished, and people were taught atheism. But perestroika started, democracy appeared and religion returned, as it is over and above time and personal predilections of rulers.

Many countries tried to follow the way of secularization, but in this case people appeared divided. Split society is unstable. An ideological civil war comes up. Some are found to be atheists, others isolate themselves in fundamentalism.

The Tatars escaped that lot as in due time they reformed Islam. Not in the sense that they refused fundamentals of Islam, they rather returned to them faster. They returned to the origin, but not in the sense of radical fundamentalists, but rather in understanding of earlier Muslims.

When Islam was born, the number of Muslims was very small, not as today. There were no such financial resources as there are today, but, nevertheless, Islam conquered half of the world - due to the knowledge together with the will. There were no other resources. Knowledge plus political will are engines of progress.

All of us are closely watching the processes in Europe. They speak different languages, each nation has its ancient culture and very uneasy historical relations; recalling Germany and France is enough. But all are getting integrated. There is more similarity in the Islamic world. Even in the Tatar language one cannot speak without using Koran terms. I do not mention that there are about ten Arabic countries with very close cultures and languages. I would not like to look a Eurocentrist. We see new processes occurring in the world that the Islamic world should not break away with, resist and be left behind.

Talking about the ummah of Muslims, ummah of Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, etc. is popular in our culture. In Russia we speak about the ummah of Muslims of the country or separately about the one of Tatarstan. The integration process is taking place in the world. There is globalization in the nominal sense, and there is integration on the ground of real interests. Globalization has advantages for those who are able to use them. Why not to announce Islamic globalization, and make it not against the West but rather together with the West. We have funds, we have intellectual powers. Thousands and thousands of Muslims work in the best universities of the West. Let them now work for the Islamic world.

Islamic websites are numerous on the Internet. They cite ayats and hadiths of the Koran. We also need a different site that would unite outstanding wits of the Islamic world. We could undertake this mission.

Europe gives many topics for reflection. By and large Europe began in Andalusia. Europe, at first glance, is Catholic-Protestant. But where did it start from? Can one understand it without Andalusia, the University of Cordoba, culture of Granada? It is impossible. Muslims returned antique philosophers to the world, and at the same time fuelled the Renaissance. Then the concept of the West appeared. They do not like to recall it in Europe, but it is so. I am talking about the well-known things.

Europe once learned from Muslims, but we also should learn from Europe. The well-known hadith reads: “Seek learning from a cradle up to a tomb. Seek science even if it is in the lands of China. Let those who want pleasure in this world engage themselves in commerce, and let those who want pleasure in that world seek abstention and piety; and those who want pleasure of both worlds should seek it in learning and knowledge”. These are remarkable words of the Prophet. One should learn from both the East and the West.

Islam could play a huge role in renovation of Europe, not in sense of technology and scientific knowledge, but in sense of moral principles and justice.

All people from birth are free and equal. Physiology or origin, race or language, religion or country do not matter. The prophet said: “Fairness of the sultan during one day is better than worshipping during seventy years”. One should remember it.

A man who interferes in the course of history in this sense creates it. The truth is not a stark absolute, it depends on us. The problem is linked to not only how much and what we take from Islam. The question is different: what we bring to it. And how our contribution can change the way Islam is perceived.

The Koran does not forbid progress. But there are out-of-date traditions in our life. Is it bad that Boeing-type aircrafts are manufactured in Tatarstan? Is it bad that heavy trucks KAMAZ win the first prize in Paris – Dakar rallies? Is it bad that Tatarstan helicopters fly in the peaceful sky of Turkey? Is it bad if a peaceful atom of the Arabic countries will start to serve the interests of their people.

Progress in knowledge, as it used to be in medieval Andalusia, should result in all-round harmonious development. We should live not only owing to petroleum, but, first of all, owing to knowledge. Our next meeting should be organized together with outstanding Muslim scientists. Among Nobel prize winners there are Muslims. There is the Islamic Academy of Sciences. It is necessary to unite politicians and scientists.

In Turkey near Antalya there is Tatarstan’s observatory in the mountains. Last year, a new galaxy was opened with the help of this telescope. The discovery was confirmed by observatories of Princeton, Cambridge. There were times when Muslims were leading in Astronomy. The universe is not a stiffened assemblage of planets and stars, it develops - new stars and planets appear, and some of them die. Astronomers proved that the universe expands. Isn’t it what is mentioned in the Koran: “I will not swear on planets that are current and disappearing”? I understand that it is easier to find a new oil field than a galaxy, and it is more profitable. However, the intellectual potential costs more than petroleum.

We need breakthrough technologies, the Islamic world should occupy its deserved place in the sphere of knowledge, and there are real opportunities for it.

Russia always occupied a special place in the Islamic world. In Soviet times the global problems were not solved without Russia. Today, the situation has changed, and it is necessary to direct affairs using the intellect rather than weapon as it used to be. Tatars have a proverb saying: “The one who is strong will beat one, and who is clever will beat a thousand”. Our age is an epoch of rivalry of wits and modern technologies.

During the years of perestroika, Russia’s positions in the Islamic world considerably weakened. Now the role of Russia noticeably grows, which will certainly positively affect the influence of the Islamic factor on the world politics.

Not only power but also wisdom determines politics. Our permanent group that analyzes and as a result has its vision could unite its efforts with European and American centres which want to find a common language with the Muslim world.

In Russia there is an experience of cooperation of different faiths. We have to say that the conflict of civilizations will not pass. In Palestine there cannot be a military victory, but there can be a victory of reason. In Iraq there can not be victory of the armed force, but there can be a victory of good will. In Iran it makes no sense to try to impose what contradicts the interests of the country. Double standards will not pass! Different policy that would be based on justice is needed.

Russia entered the OIC as an observer and it should take its place in the Islamic world, not just participate in sessions, but it should bear its share of responsibility. Experience of Russia is a political resource. Tatarstan is ready to participate in this mission by virtue of its opportunities.

Thank you.