A welcoming word of the Chairman of Russia Muftis Council mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin at the International High-level ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting Forum) conference "Intercivilizational concord as a necessary part of steady development".

Dear members of the Presidium, dear participants of the conference!

On behalf of all Russian Muslims, I would like to convey our words of respect and wishes of fruitful work and success to the guests and participants of today's session of Asia-Europe Meeting Forum.

Islamic civilization, like all modern world, is facing a choice of the way of future development and political reform. The Islamic world is increasingly becoming a collective subject of international relations. And at the same time, it's becoming more and more open. We need to outline our position on the modern world and the situation in it like never before; we must outline our vision of the future, imagine the coming world culture as a whole thorough the understanding of universal values and local, national cultures.

The path to intercivilizational dialogue lies, without any doubt, through cooperation. We are sure that our Russian experience will prove useful example, for for the last two decades Russia Muftis Council and other Muslim organizations of our country have done much to establish dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim nations, and we openly declare our intent and readiness to engage in dialogue with followers of all creeds.

And that is where we need to unite the efforts of all people of good will.

I pray for the success of this conference and for the further development of peaceful dialogue.

With kind prayers,
Mufti sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin
Chairman of Russia Muftis Council


(Saint Petersburg, July 3, 2014)