Speech of A. P. Torshin, the Council of Federation of the RF.
International Conference « Russia and the Islamic World:
partnership for stability »
Moscow,
September 24, 2009 .
As-saliamu aleikum, dear high guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends
First of all I would like to greet all participants of the Conference that in
my view has become an important landmark in the history of relations between
Russia and the Islamic world.
Russian
Federation is not an external observer. Our
country is a part of rthe Islamic world - or to be more precise – of the
«Islamic North ». Millions of Russian citizens preach Islam and in some of our
constituencies, the subjects of Russian
Federation, namely Tatarstan, the ChechenRepublic and other republics of the Northern Caucasus, etc, Muslims are the majority of the
population and moreover – they are the demographically dynamic majority. I would
refer to the example of the Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia where you may often see families with
fourteen children. Russia has a good experience and old
traditions of good neighborly relations and cooperation with Muslim states. In
the USSR period economic
cooperation with Arab world was developing successfully, we assisted in the
construction of many industrial objects in Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and other countries.
Today in Russia in spite
of all challenges we have preserved religious tolerance and partnership – not
just a partnership, I would say, friendship between Russia and the
Islamic world is successfully developing. In this connection I can’t help
mentioning the historic visit of the President Medvedev of Russia to the Cathedral Mosque of Moscow, that
has become a landmark in the history of relations between the state authorities
and the Islamic community of Russia. During the President
Medvedev’ meeting with Muftis and heads of the North Caucasian republics
in Sochi in August, there were appeals for fighting against any anti- Islam
phobias, for renunciation to the use of the insulting word for Muslims “Islamic
terrorism”.
Indeed, it is now we all unanimously, regardless of our religious belonging
must oppose the threat of terrorism, must fight against the spread of drugs and
human trafficking. Terrorists have no religion , they are all bandits that take
away the dearest gift of the Almighty – the human life.
Russia can in many
Different ways contribute to the common effort to provide peace and
stability. Our country is ready to continue to expand humanitarian contacts with
Muslim countries, it is ready to conduct an intensive and a mutually enriching
dialogue in the field of education and culture. I am sure, the development of
information space with the participation of Russia, say, launching a new
satellite channel about the Islamic world in Russian in addition to the
successfully functioning TV channel in Arabic “Russia today” ( this new
satellite channel can for example function under the aegis of the OIC where
Russia has the status of an observer) will have a positive impact and help
overcome the prejudice and the remaining myths about each other.
Interaction on the parliamentary level is to become an important element of
partnership between Russia and Islamic world. In the
Council of Federation we regularly meet delegations that represent various
Muslim countries and Islamic organizations, we meet reputable Muslim religious
leaders. For example, yesterday in the Council of Federation we had negotiations
with the Supreme Mufti of Syria and the Minister on Vakfs’ Affaires. I
personally visited Syria
twice only in this year, I have been in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
These parliamentary exchange must be broadened in future by attracting
local (regional and municipal) legislatures. Both parties have an interest
in this. Such exchange helps to know each other better I am inviting the
legislators of the OIC countries to visit our Caucasian republics and see with
their own eyes that the situation there is stabilizing. There is a Russian
saying “it is better to see once than hear a hundred times”
We still have a huge unrealized potential in the field of economy and
investments. I represent here the Council of Federation, that is the Chamber of
Russian regions, and I would like to lay the particular stress on the
perspective of broadening an inter-regional dialogue between Russian
constituencies and regions of Arab and Islamic states. In our turn we are ready
to provide any support. For example, organize an informational trip of Islamic
businessmen to Russian regions so that they could – without any bureaucratic
constrains see the perspective investment projects and areas of cooperation.
A question of Islamic banks deserves special attention. On the economic forum
in St-Petersburg in July within the framework “Russia- Arab world” this question
was already touched upon. The idea to open on the territory of the
Russian
Federation financial structures that function
on the principles of Islamic banking is – in my view – a very perspective idea.
Some Western countries, for example, Great
Britain, where the “Islamic bank of Britain” was the pioneer, have
accumulated sufficient positive experience that allows to attract serious
investments from the OIC countries. Why do not we try and make
Russia more attractive for foreign
capital in the situation of global economic crises?
Rounding up I would like to stress once again that future relations of
Russia with the Islamic world
countries depend exclusively on the goodwill of our people I am sure that this
conference will contribute to this process.
Thank you for your attention. Kul’ am va intum bi heir!