Russia and Islamic World conference opens in Al Kuwait

President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov of Ingushetia addressed the conference and read a message of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in which he stated that Russia, which has the status of an observer in the Organisation of Islamic Conference, "is determined to develop cooperation with the Islamic world."
Yevkurov stressed that Russia had never identified Islam, which is a religion of peace, justice and tolerance, with extremism and terrorism. "Unfortunately, acts of terrorism continue to be staged in Ingushetia. I know it from my own experience. We should pay more attention to the younger generation, so that young people would not get under the influence of the forces, which engage in destructive work under the guise of Islam," he said.
Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, president of the Russian Council of Muftis, forwarded a message to participants in the conference, which said that starting from the 90s of the past century Muslims had played an important role in the foreign policy of the country. Ravil Gainutdin stressed in the message that "the Council of Muftis believes that its purpose is to cooperate actively with state bodies, in order to promote the solution of the most important problems affecting the whole of the Muslim community of Russia"; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.