An Islamic University will appear in Moscow

On February 19, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Igor Ivanov, spoke about plans to create an Islamic University in Moscow at a meeting with the ambassadors of the OIC member countries. According to him, "the fundamental decision to establish the university has been made and the relevant preparatory work is already underway." "I have no doubt that this will further strengthen inter-religious harmony in the country," the minister added.

I. Ivanov also spoke about the fruitful cooperation between Islam and Orthodoxy in Russia: "...we have accumulated a lot of experience in interaction. Its importance is especially growing now, when interreligious and interethnic conflicts, which fuel such evil as international terrorism, are becoming one of the main challenges the international community". According to the minister, the establishment of interfaith dialogue is one of the main tasks of Russian foreign and domestic policy. "It is this approach that underlies the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand our cooperation with the Organization of the Islamic Conference," the Foreign Minister said.

Sources

• Establishment of an Islamic University in Moscow will help strengthen inter-religious harmony - Igor Ivanov // RIA News". 2004. February 19.