Rustam Minnikhanov: ‘Islamic capital of Russia? I don’t think we are a candidate for it…’
Prospects of cooperation of Russia and Muslim countries were discussed by representatives from 30 countries and leading Russian experts in Kazan on 27 May within the scope of a meeting of 'Russia – Islamic World' Strategic Vision Group. The participants concurred with each other that the communication model of different religions and ethnicities existing in Tatarstan was an example for the whole world. They also noted the benefit of the cooperation of Russian banks, including Tatfondbank PJSC, with Islamic Development Bank. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya who visited the event found out what 'weapon' our republic would purchase against terrorism and whether Kazan would be an Islamic capital of Russia.
Severe blow to terrorists and thaw in Strategic Vision Group
On 27 May, City Hall of Kazan hosted the second meeting of 'Russia – Islamic World' Strategic Vision Group in a renewed composition – the first meeting after a temporary freeze of the work of the Group took place in Moscow in 2015. Rustam Minnikhanov renewed the work of this tool of the Russian diplomacy at Vladimir Putin's suggestion almost a year ago. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov opened the first meeting in Moscow in June 2015. This time in Kazan he was represented by Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
He was the person who read Vladimir Putin's welcome speech. In his speech, President assured Russia would always be a reliable ally of the Islamic World.
'I would like to confirm Russia will always be a reliable ally of the Islamic World who is ready to help in the solution of pressing issues. We support the active position of Muslim countries who strengthen the principles of fairness and superiority of the law in international relations.'
Vladimir Putin also mentioned a severe blow to the terrorists carried out with the participation of Russia. But despite this fact, terrorists and their supporters are still trying to destabilise the situation and derail international efforts on the peace process.
'Secret' weapon of Tatarstan against terrorism
Fight against terrorism was the main topic for discussion at the meeting. All speakers who delivered their speeches concurred with each other that a global threat was hanging over the modern world that was a rapid increase of extremism and terrorism supporters.
'We are living in a time when Islam is associated with terrorism or other consequences. Islam was and will always be tolerant, and it doesn't extend any special privilege to anyone. Representatives of Islam are to unite and protect our positions,' Minnikhanov commented the touchy subject.
President of Emirate Policy Centre Ebtesam Al Ketbi, who was the only woman at the table, frankly told about the terrorist threat. As she said, the guest came from 'a region where blood is running now'. And Al Ketbi was a witness of how representatives of the same religion are fighting, the Shias and Sunnis are contending, Muslims, Christians and representatives of other religions are struggling.
'It is impossible to get rid of extremism and terrorism when the reasons generating them still exist. Undoubtedly, we are fighting, waging a war but the solution is not seen. Poverty, absence of fairness, double standards in the actions of a number of countries, unresolved Palestinian problem, Syrian and Iraqi issues, the situation in Yemen and so on are the reasons,' the representative of the UAE expressed her opinion.
According to her, forces that publicly declare they are real Muslims stole Islam from people. First of all, Islam is suffering from it.
'Russia has a great chance to play an important role in the solution of our Islamic problems. But Russia should act carefully. Those military strikes in Syria, which sometimes lead to the death of the civilian population, harm Russia,' Ebtesam Al Ketbi told. 'We are impressed by the beautiful nature of your country, hospitality and kindness of the Tatars, the depth of Muslim traditions and that your Muslims have no sense of superiority or aspirations for extremism.'
By the way, in the short run, Tatarstan will purchase a kind of 'weapon' to fight against the distribution of extremism: we are speaking about the opening of Bolgarian Islamic Academy. Chairman of Muslim Spiritual Directorate, mufti Hazrat Kamil Samigullin told about its role in the fight against terrorism.
'The young often comes under the influence of radical views as a result of senseless surfing the Internet and visits to suspicious sites or during their study in foreign centres that today, unfortunately, the Russian Muslim education cannot be compared with. The creation of the world Islamic education centre in Bolgar – Bolgarian Islamic Academy – will be a solution of the problem,' Samigullin told. 'In the Soviet era, traditional Muslim education was interrupted, theologians were forcibly repressed. The recreation of the largest spiritual Islamic centre of Russia will be a serious step among other numerous measures to fight against extremist and distribution of an alien ideology.'
Will Kazan become an Islamic capital of Russia?
During the meeting, almost every speaker noted that the Russian experience of inter-religious and inter-ethnic relationships was unique and important for the whole told. But the participants paid a special attention the experience of Tatarstan. As Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov told, it is very important to share the experience of Tatarstan with other countries, and what Tatarstan and the administration of the republic are doing will positively reflect on the cooperation of Russia with Muslim countries. Veniamin Popov, Director of the Centre for the Partnership of Civilizations at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), supported Bogdanov's position.
'Now our unique experience is necessary to overcome crisis occurrences existing in the world. Kazan and Bolgar are possibly the best evidence of it. Muslim mosques and Orthodox churches stand close there. It demonstrates the idea of a friendship between different people with different religions, and nowadays it is one of the key problems,' Popov commented.
Rustam Minnikhanov, in turn, said the success and dynamic development of Tatarstan was explained by harmonic inter-ethnic relationships. President of Tatarstan also answered a question asked by Realnoe Vremya whether Kazan could become an Islamic capital of Russia.
'I think Kazan is Kazan, we are not a candidate because we have other Russian cities where our Muslim brotherhood is represented. But as a site, Kazan has its peculiarities and history,' Minnikhanov informed.
Speaking about the sites, President specified, first of all, it was KazanSummit where applied things in the economy and finance were discussed. As Minnikhanov told, over 20m Muslims are to have a possibility to communicate and integrate, and 'Russia – Islamic World' Strategic Group is a good foundation for it.
'There are many problems in classic banking, while Islamic banking is very correct'
Signing of a number of Memorandums on Understanding was one of the results of the meeting. To start with, the agreement was signed between Islamic Development Bank and Central Bank of Russia, then the document was signed between Islamic Bank, Sberbank, Tatfondbank and Vnesheconombank.
Islamic Development Bank Group President Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani stated Islamic banking would perform an important role in strengthening the financial system of Russia, and the bank was ready to help the Russian Federation in the elaboration of a legislation to introduce Islamic banking.
'Islamic Development Bank can help in order to make amendments in the acting Russian legislation, so that Islamic banking will be able to play a more effective role in your economy. Today leading Russian banks are trying to use the opportunities of Islamic banking, especially concerning mutually beneficial investments, risk profile, President of IDB Group commented.
As chairman of the board of directors of Tatfondbank PJSC Robert Musin tells, whose bank, by the way, opened in Russia Partner Bank Centre first, before the start of the successful fulfilment of the project, the Russian party will have to cover a long distance.
'It is necessary to form a culture in Russia. And not only clients but also very bankers need to study. We need to cover a long distance. And here a joint work with Islamic Development Banks is very important. They are groups that also include the personnel training. In spite of the fact that we rely on our Kazan University, Russian Islamic University, Bolgarian Academy, we will possibly send our specialists to Malaysia and other countries in the short run to make the first deals,' Musin stated.
As Rustam Minnikhanov told, now there are some difficulties regarding the availability of the financing connected with political disagreements with our partners from Europe and the US. However, it doesn't refer to the Russian partners who represent the Islamic World.
'We can easily work. And the tools offered by Islamic banking are more stable. We don't see any problems in Islamic banking. If in the classic banking there are many problems, Islamic banking is very conservative, very correct. I'm convinced this tool will be only beneficial for our country,' President concluded.
