Moscow (UNA-OIC) - The conference, "Russia and the Islamic World: Practical Steps in Media Cooperation", called for strengthening cooperation and partnerships between Islamic countries and Russia in the media field based on both sides' shared values and goals.
This international conference was co-organized on Thursday in the Russian capital, Moscow, by the Group of Strategic Vision Russia - Islamic World (GSV), Sputnik International News Agency, and the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), with broad participation of officials in the Russian Federation, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, representatives of regional and international organizations, and media professionals from various countries of the world.
It began with a video address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Tatarstan and Chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia - Islamic World" Rustam Minnikhanov, in which he emphasized that Relations between Russia and the Islamic world have historically been known for their high level of trust and cooperation.
"It is pleasing that today this cooperation is not only preserved but also acquires a new dynamic. This is evidenced by regular events held by the GSV "Russia-Islamic World"," said the president of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Cooperation with Muslim countries through mass media is one of the key aspects of Russia's international policy, Minnikhanov stressed. This cooperation is especially relevant in terms of countering the spread of misinformation and spreading traditional spiritual values.
For his part, the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Grigory Karasin, underlined that Russia is a multinational and multi-confessional country and that its citizens traditionally support strengthening ties with Islamic countries.
"Russia highly appreciates the contribution of Islam to the development of the country," Karasin emphasized.
He pointed out that the purpose of the conference is to discuss ways to establish equal cooperation between Russia and Muslim countries and to provide citizens with equal access to truthful, unbiased information, noting, in this regard, the importance of establishing direct cooperation between the Union of OIC news agencies and major Russian media organizations.
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ramazan Abdulatipov recalled the recent visit of the OIC secretary-general and his deputies to Russia, when "...the main directions of interaction between Russia and the OIC were outlined."
"We face the task of providing information support for this important direction of Russia - OIC cooperation," he stressed.
UNA Acting Director General Mohammed Abd Rabbo Al-Yami, delivered a vedio intervention in which he appreciated the significant role played by the Group of Strategic Vision (Russia - the Islamic World) to enhance long-term cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries.
Al-Yami stressed that this conference seeks to set practical steps for media cooperation between the Islamic world and Russia and to build bridges of communication between the two sides.
He called on all representatives of countries to benefit from the strengths of the Union as a media body and a neutral international training centre, which brings together 57 members from four continents under its umbrella and has an international news platform in three languages, Arabic, English and French.
"Since its formation, the Union of OIC News Agencies has been working on the principles of moderation, opposing manifestations of Islamophobia. We try to act as intermediaries in interaction with the world's major agencies and strive for openness, objectivity, and promotion of Islam's just and humanistic principles," he noted, in particular.
Russia and the countries of the Islamic world are united by longstanding, historical ties. This was stated by the Director General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi.
He said that the Emirati side is proud of its long historical ties with Russia.
"There are many things that unite us and enable us to work together. Our task is to disseminate the truth about what is happening in the world and reflect it in our materials," Al Rayssi stressed.
He recalled that it was the UAE that hosted the first session of the Global Media Congress, which was also attended by Russia.
The importance of the current conference, according to Al Rayssi, cannot be overestimated.
"It strengthens our positions, the exchange of views, the development of the principles of moderation, which we rely on in our work," he added.
In today's context, it is necessary to develop a framework for working together toward fraternity and tolerance. Events such as this conference, as the speaker emphasized, help clarify the true problems and eradicate intolerance and hatred.
The Director of the Media and Communication Department in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Wajdi Sindi, stressed the importance of establishing strategic partnerships in the media field with leading media institutions in the Russian Federation.
He indicated that the OIC encourages strengthening cooperation and solidarity in media.
"We are working to provide integrated media coverage of the various visits of His Excellency the Secretary-General and the periodic bilateral talks that the OIC holds with officials in the Russian Federation, in addition to highlighting in the traditional and modern media the outcomes of those consultations," Sindi added.
The Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Center, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Press Ivan Nechayev, talked about the specifics of the ministry's work with foreign journalists from Muslim countries.
The diplomat reminded that Russia is a multinational and multi-confessional country with a rich historical experience of coexisting different cultures. The development of cooperation with the Islamic world is one of the most critical priorities of the Russian foreign policy doctrine.
The speakers of the event included the Deputy Chairman of the GSV "Russia - Islamic World", Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Farit Mukhametshin, and officials and media experts.
The conference discussed the most important measures for more effective media cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Islamic world.
It is noteworthy that the conference witnessed, on the sidelines, the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Union of OIC News Agencies and the International Video Agency (Ruptly), which is specialized in providing visual news content.
