Learning to understand

About 15-17 representatives of Islamic states, mostly former government officials, will take part in the group's work. From the Russian side, the group will be chaired by the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Evgeny Primakov. The purpose of creating the group is “general reflections on the future paths of development of Russia and the Islamic world and what we can do together in the dialogue of civilizations.” After Russia became an observer of the OIC, the group’s activities become especially significant, Popov believes.