September 4 2009, Istanbul

TURKEY

The Muslim Friend of Russia

The official relationships between Russia and Turkey have been going on for more than 500 hundred years since the era of the Ottoman Empire.  During this long period, there have been some struggles between Russia and Turkey.  However, the total years of war is a small percentage within the five centuries; the periods of peace are much longer.

The peaceful neighborly relationships that have been started in the beginning of the 20^th century by Lenin, the historical leader of Russia, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of The Republic of Turkey, have been going on until today, and in the near future, it will have lasted over one century.

After the end of the Soviet regime and choosing the democratic life and government style, the relationships between Russia and Turkey have been improving in every aspect, and it can be said for the level that it reached today that a “golden page” has been turned on to.  The governing leaders of both countries affirm in every opportunity this close cooperation and friendship phase between the two neighbors.  We are very pleased with this situation.

Religious Freedom

The democracy in Russia and improvements in areas of freedom and human rights have started a new area in religious life as well; the peoples of Russia found the opportunity to practice their religious freedom, to revive religious institutions, and to establish relationships with the coreligionists in other countries.  Today, the level of freedom and rights in practicing the religious beliefs is at its highest point in the Russian Federation.

In Russia, as the members of other religions, millions of Muslims have faced with the obstacles that are caused by the past destructions in practicing and improving their religious lives.

Turkey, with its 99 percent Muslim population and developed religious institutions, has tried to help as much as possible to the Muslim community in overcoming the difficulties in its neighbor Russia.  The leaders of the Muslim community in Russia actively participated in the activities in Turkey as well.

Activities:

We can list some examples of cooperation in religious activities of Turkey with the Russian counterparts as:

• During the formation stage of religious freedoms, upon invitation, “The Commission of Religious Affairs” formed at the Duma has been visited, and information and documents are presented about the organizations and legislation in Turkey.
• Religious functionaries trained in Turkey have been appointed and sent to Russia by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs.
• In order to quickly fill the vacuum that opened up during the Soviet era, students came from the parts of Russia where Muslim population is dense and studied in and graduated from Theology Departments of Turkish Universities.
• Classical books about the fundamentals of Islam have been translated into Russian and sent to Islamic institutions who requested them.  Also, upon the request of Kazan, the “Quranic Alphabet” has been printed with the explanations written in the Cyrillic alphabet and sent from Istanbul to Russia. 
• Russia has joined in the founding of “Eurasian Council of Islam” that includes all the Eurasian countries and made contributions at each of its meetings.  We hope that one of the near future meetings of European Council of Islam will take place in Russia.
• In Istanbul, Russia joined the founding of “European Muslim Union” (EMU), which includes representatives from all the European countries, with a committee under the presidency of my dear friend Abdulvahid Niyazof in May 2005 as a charter member.
• After the meetings of Istanbul, Granada, Bosnia, Potsdam and Bonn, upon the invitation of Dear A. Niyazof, the General Assembly of European Muslim Union gathered in Moscow.  After this General Assembly, which was very successful, the president of the Republic of Tatarstan Honorable Mimtemir Shaymiev received European representatives in the Palace of Presidency in Kazan.
• The nongovernmental organizations in Turkey helped to build mosques in the locations that Muslim communities in Russia need especially Tartarstan, Bashkortostan, and the north of Caucasia.
• Turkey actively contributed in Russian Federation’s acceptance as an observer member to the “Organization of the Islamic Conference.”  In this issue, the Extraordinary Ambassador Honorable Popov fulfilled his duty with success.  The membership of Russia became certain in the meeting of Organization of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul.

The developments that we have mentioned above are just a few of the successes that have been realized in the religious and social realm.  For sure, the prospect of Russia-Turkey cooperation and solidarity is much greater.  The two neighbors and friend countries signed and implemented many projects in the fields of energy, economy, education, culture, and science.

Brotherly works to be done in religious services and services in the above mentioned areas and attempts for cooperation will make great contributions to peace, serenity, stability, welfare, and socio-cultural development of the peoples of the two countries.

Professor Nevzat Yalcintas. The Honourable President of the European Muslim Union