DECR representative takes part in interfaith forum in Moscow

DECR Communication Service, 13/02/2025

On February 12^th, an International Academic and Research Conference on Intercultural Cooperation as a Factor in Preserving Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values took place in Moscow. It was organised by the Centralised Religious Organisation “International Islamic Mission” in collaboration with the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education and the Moscow State Linguistic University.

Speaking at the conference opening were: Grand Mufti Shaykh Al-Islam Talgat Tajuddin, chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Russia; Mr V.V. Kipshidze, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Church’s Relations with Society and Mass Media; Mr Jonathan Feldman, head of educational programmes of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia; Dashi-Nima Sodnomdorzhiev, permanent representative to Moscow of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia; Mufti Shafig Pshikhachev, chairman of the Centralized Religious Organisation “International Islamic Mission;” Mr V.V. Yeremin, head of the Department of Cooperation with Religious Associations of the Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate; Ms M.V. Zakharova, director of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr E.S. Muslimov, Minister for National Policy of the Republic of Dagestan; Mr Salman Pervaiz, first secretary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Russian Federation; Mr R.G. Abdulatipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation; Mr M.A. Gryaznov, director of the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education; Ms I.A. Krayeva, rector of the Moscow State Linguistic University; Mr S.V. Shitkov, acting rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr S.K. Kurbanov, chief of staff at the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Chechen Republic; and Mr S.Yu. Rudov, deputy head of the World Russian People’s Council.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Hieromonk Grigory (Matrusov), DECR representative, took part in the conference. He read out a message of greetings from Metropolitan Anthony.

Among those who delivered keynote speeches at the plenary session were: Mr V.Yu. Zorin, chair of the Commission on Interethnic and Interfaith Relations and Migration of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation; Ms I.A. Guseinova, vice-rector of the Moscow Linguistic University for project work and youth policy; Mufti Ravil Pancheyev, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of St. Petersburg and North-West of Russia; Mufti Khadzhimurat Gatsalov, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania; Mufti Muhammad Gambarov, chairman of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of the Lugansk People’s Republic; Mr K.R. Rakhimov, senior researcher at the Abu Rayhan Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Ms F.A. Pliyeva, executive director of the Centralised Religious Organisation “International Islamic Mission.”

Three expert panels took place within the framework of the conference, entitled “Intercultural Cooperation as an Instrument for Preserving and Promoting Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values,” “Instruments and Mechanisms of Building Up Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values in Today’s World. Devising Efficient Means for Counteracting Destructive Ideologies Propaganda,” and “Contemporary Media as an Instrument of Creating a Positive Image of Traditional Spiritual and Moral Values.”