Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin met the Consul General of Italy in Moscow, Francesco Forte, at his residence in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

The meeting was also attended by the first deputy chairman Rushan Abbyasov and head of the international department Ildar Galeyev.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin welcomed the guest and spoke about the historically friendly relations of our countries. He emphasized Italy’s contribution to the development of Europe and the world, also mentioning the contribution of Italian architects, architects, artists to the cultural development of Russia.

Italy has always been perceived by Russia and other countries as the heart of the Enlightened Europe, where a human, his personality, his freedom and his creative activity were considered as the highest values and criteria for evaluating public institutions.

Due to the events happening in the Middle East, Italy is also concerned about the issue of migration and receiving migrants from this region.

“Your hospitable, open country, friendly and sincere people today serve as an example of tolerance,” said the mufti, adding that the Russian citizens highly appreciated the efforts of the Italian government aimed at developing the necessary mechanisms for dealing with migration without compromising its humanistic traditions.

The head of Russian Muslim thanked the Italian partners for their participation in the projects organized by the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, including the Kazan International Festival of Islamic Cinema established by Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. He also invited the Italian representatives to participate in such ambitious projects as the International Muslim Forum and the Spiritual Silk Road.

Francesco Forte recalled that European science and culture were enriched with the discoveries of scholars residing in the Caliphate territories, since the heyday of the Islamic civilization.

Francesco Forte, a graduate of the University of Trieste, conducts extensive public research activities in Moscow. He is the author of scientific publications on the theory and history of international relations and political philosophy. He is also interested in the history of civilizations and cultures.

The parties expressed their most sincere satisfaction with the meeting and the intention for further cooperation.