Rustam Minnikhanov meets Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen

On May 10, during his meeting with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he heads the "Russia-Islamic World" Strategic Vision Group and emphasized the importance of developing relations with the countries of the Islamic world for Russia and the role that Tatarstan plays in this work.

According to Tatarstan President, the next, the 11th KazanSummit, will acquire not only the federal status but the larger scale. The number of participants will increase and chief executives of Russia are expected to take part in it.

However, the Summit has already gathered over three thousand participants from over 50 countries this year.

Russia and relations with it are of great importance for the OIC countries. “In particular, because 25 million Muslims live in Russia. The OIS is not a political or religious organization, we do not divide people into Muslims and non-Muslims, but the care for Muslim brothers is defined in the Charter. Muslims live well in Russia, like representatives of other regions, each of which can live as the faith entrusts and perform their religious rites,” Dr. Al-Othaimeen noted.

The OIC Secretary General emphasized that Islam is against terrorism. This faith teaches goodness, tolerance for other religions and compassion.

He suggested that an international meeting under the title of countering terrorism will be held in Tatarstan and promised that the OIC delegation would also attend it.

Minnikhanov asked Dr. Al-Othaimeen to share the advice and assistance in organization of a regular meeting of the "Russia-Islamic World" Strategic Vision Group which is planned to be held in Saudi Arabia this year. The Secretary General of the OIS promised to assist.