Rustam Minnikhanov: The Strategic Vision Group contributes to strengthening relations between Russia and Islamic world

On May 27, speaking at a plenary session of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – the Islamic World” Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the interethnic and inter-confessional community is the support of the Russian statehood and Tatarstan is a good example of this.

Welcoming the meeting, Minnikhanov, who chairs the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – the Islamic World”, reminded that last year the first session of the updated Group was held in Moscow.

He thanked the Executive Office of the Russian President, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia for their contribution in holding the event, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank and other partners for their supporting many initiatives.

“The Strategic Vision Group contributes to joining efforts of government officials, experts and scholars from many countries to strengthen relations between Russian and the Islamic world, exchanging ideas and best practices and making recommendations to deal with international challenges Russian and the Muslim states are facing. Russia is a multinational country. It is home to more than 20 million Muslims. The vast majority of them is the indigenous population. During the formation of the Russian state new territories and peoples preserving their culture, religion and language joined it. It was not easy to make our peoples untied.  But now the interethnic and inter-confessional community is the support of the Russian state," Minnikhanov said.