Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during talks with Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, Moscow, October 24, 2022

Mr Secretary General,

Friends,

We are glad to see you in Moscow.

Russia and the states of Islamic civilisation have been reliable partners for a long time. We cooperate in ensuring security and stability, and solving economic problems.

As we discussed with you in Riyadh on May 31, we aim to further strengthen our cooperation with the states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in all areas, while respecting your socio-political ways of life and traditional spiritual and moral values.

We highly appreciate that amid the current difficult international situation, which is complicated by Western countries’ unilateral actions, the Islamic world does not compromise its independence, and keeps its commitment to the principle of the sovereign equality of states and to the development of international relations on the basis of international law and respect for the civilisational and cultural diversity of the modern international order. We are convinced that only on the basis of such principles is it possible to effectively combat terrorism and resolve global problems, which, unfortunately, persist and are even getting worse.

We expect that today we will be able to discuss with you the state and prospects of our cooperation in all areas that are a priority for the international and Islamic agendas.