Rustam Minnikhanov in Bahrain: Islam is organic and integrated part of Russian civilization

On 3 November Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, who came on a working visit to the City of Manama, made a speech at the Bahrain Dialogue Forum organized by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Bahrain and dedicated to the topic of "East and West for Human Coexistence".

The forum gathered 200 world religious leaders, scientists and state representatives and the main principle of the organizers is to facilitate continuous expansion of dialogue bridges between religious leaders, thinkers, workers of culture and mass media in the East and the West.

Welcoming participants of the forum, Rustam Minnikhanov stated: “One of the forceful platforms for dialogue and discussions is the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – the Islamic World” headed by me by the errand from Russian President. Tatarstan model of harmonious mutual coexistence and interaction of ethnicities and religions is considered today to be an example of a reasonable civilizational approach to matters of national security and the Strategy of further development of the Russian Federation”.

Tatarstan President accentuated that Islam is an organic and integrated part of the Russian civilization which was also proved by the scale of celebrations of the 110th anniversary of adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria.

He told how the republic is building and preserving the inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace and informed that the next year was declared the Year of National Cultures and Traditions in the republic.

Rustam Minnikhanov said that there are more than 170 ethnicities living in the republic, who enjoy full support of work of national and Sunday schools, and traditional holidays of all ethnicities living in Tatarstan are held at the state level. He added that to unite all ethnicities the republic established the Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year.

In conclusion Tatarstan President invited participants of the forum to visit the republic and get acquainted with the development of a dialogue of cultures in Russia.

Alongside this at his meeting with the General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha on the sidelines of the forum, Rustam Minnikhanov expressed his gratitude to the administration of the organization for comprehensive support and invited him to come to Kazan and take part in the KazanSummit international forum.