Official website of the President of Russia

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The greeting reads, in particular:

”Today's world faces new threats and challenges. We are witnessing attempts to create divisions on religious or ethnic grounds. And we should be fully aware of the catastrophic consequences these activities could produce. We know very well what a powerful unifying force religion is. But we also see what the predicatory activities of certain extremist leaders can lead to. The ideologists of terror have staked their claims not only on acute social problems, but also on religious illiteracy, separatist and nationalist sentiments. I am confident such a position has nothing in common with the true purpose of religious associations. After all, all world religions are based on the fundamental values of goodness, justice and peace.

That is why the mission of the clergy is so important in helping people to separate true faith from attempts to manipulate it. The clergy strengthens moral values and fills a spiritual vacuum that would otherwise be prey to extremists. And today the establishment of the widest intercivilizational dialogue possible, the education of people in a spirit of tolerance and respect for each other's interests, is a responsibility shared by both states, religious associations, and national education systems.

I am sure that your conference will make a meaningful contribution to strengthening such interaction. And that the proposals prepared during your meeting will be implemented.

I wish you success, the achievement of your goals and all the very best“.

The conference organiser is the Foundation for the Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education.

The conference participants include representatives from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the League of Arab States, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the World Islamic Propagation Organisation.