A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Yavuz Selim Kiran visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The delegation was received by First Deputy of Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, Damir Gizatullin. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Russia Huseyn Dirioz, First Counselor of the Embassy of Turkey in Moscow Murat Dikmen, a member of the Religious Affairs Department of the Embassy of Turkey in Moscow Rais Yanglichev, Head of the International Department of the Russia Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Ildar Galeeyv.

In his speech, Damir Gizatullin conveyed greetings from the religious leader of Russian Muslims Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin and told the Turkish delegates about close historical ties between the Muslims of the two countries.
“We have maintained close relationships with all Heads of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey, including professor Ali Bardakoglu and professor Mehmet Gormez. We can see the positive dynamics in our relations under the current Chairman of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, professor Ali Erbas, ”he added.

Mr. Kiran said that before coming to Russia he had informed the President of Turkey, R.T. Erdogan, about his intention to visit the Moscow Cathedral Mosque; and the Turkish President asked to convey his greetings to his long-time friend Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin and all Russian Muslims. He also noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, also sent his greetings to the Muslim clergy of Russia.

Damir Gizatullin thanked the Turkish delegates for their brotherly attitude towards Russian Muslims. He also spoke about projects and events organized in cooperation with the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Embassy in Moscow. He expressed confidence that with the appointment of a new Turkish Ambassador will contribute to the development of bilateral ties between Russia and Turkey.

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed that after the national leaders of Russia and Turkey Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan participated in the opening ceremony of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque in 2015, it became one of the main symbols of friendship between the Russian and Turkish peoples.