Russia has vowed to strengthen its ties with the Muslim world and advance the cause of the interfaith-dialogue sponsored by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a speech delivered on his behalf by President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev at the Conference Palace here Monday night. “As an observer at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Russia is determined to widen its effective cooperation with the Muslim World,” Medvedev said in his speech. The speech of the Russian president came within the activities of ‘Russia and the Muslim World: the 4th Forum of the Strategic Vision Group' held under the auspices of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The thee-day forum, organized by the Islamic Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was themed “King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz's Initiative for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue: A New Vision for International Relations.” The forum was launched after King Abdullah said Saturday he would attend a meeting at the United Nations (UN) next month to discuss his initiative to promote interfaith dialogue. Russia's idea to create a UN Consultative Council for Religions will enhance the ethical principles of world politics and widen interfaith communication and dialogue of world cultures, he added. “I am confident that the effective cooperation between Russia and the Muslim World will also help create a more just system of international relations where power loses its political clout to resolve conflicts,” he concluded. Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani, the Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that dialogue is a basis to human existence. The world is witnessing many military and intellectual conflicts, plaguing the world with violence and hatred instead of finding a common ground and mutual interests towards a better and safer future for the coming generations,” Madani said. He pointed out that the divine messages and world cultures have many things in common as they promote moral principles and abhor injustice, violence, and destruction of the human and his environment, he said. “So, followers of Divine messages and human civilizations should have visions and solutions to the challenges threatening their co-existence,” he added. Reflecting on King Abdullah's call for dialogue among world nations, Madani quoted the King's words in a previous dialogue conference as saying “If we want any dialogue to be a success, we should focus on what brings us together, mainly: deep belief in God and moral values that make the core foundation of religions and philosophies.” Madani said that with these words, the King has established his vision for an effective dialogue to achieve a peaceful coexistence. Madani also added that the Madrid Conference has given the start signal to combat extremism through spreading the culture of dialogue and reinforcing its principles among nations, especially at these uncertain times. – SG __
