Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview for “The Path to the Islamic World” documentary, May 19, 2023

Question: The Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group was created in the mid-2000s. Why was it important to create the group at that particular point in time and why was it created in the first place?

Sergey Lavrov: Every moment in history comes at its own time. I witnessed how it all started.

President Vladimir Putin visited Malaysia in 2003 to participate in the 10th meeting of heads of state and government of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (now known as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). Before that, our President was in New York where I was serving as Permanent Representative, and he asked me what I thought about this proposal by the Malaysian leadership, which was hosting the summit. I said we definitely should accept it because it would be consistent with the multi-vector nature of our foreign policy and its openness to building up partnerships with the countries of the Global South. This term did not exist back then, but there were countries representing several continents. I mean the Islamic world.

We accepted this invitation. President Putin attended the event. Two years later, Russia was given observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which was good for promoting inter-civilisational and interreligious accord. The organisation is in favour of bringing conflict-free solutions to the many international and regional issues and forming a more just, democratic and secure international order. These goals fully meet the Russian Federation’s interests and goals in the international arena.

Russia obtained observer status with this organisation. It was critically important to reinforce political rapprochement by promoting mutually beneficial undertakings in the economic and humanitarian spheres between Russia and Islamic multilateral international organisations. It was important to secure the support of influential public circles, the clergy and the business community. In 2006, as an observer and upon the initiative of Yevgeny Primakov and Mintimer Shaimiev, and with the consent of our international Islamic partners, Russia established the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group which was charged with bringing objective information about the status of one of the leading world religions (Islam) in modern Russia to the international Muslim community and identifying new areas for cooperation.

Importantly, in the mid-2000s, the historical West began to ramp up its efforts to impose unipolarity and to aggressively promote ultra-liberal values that are unacceptable to most of the peoples of our planet. During this historical period, Russia and the Muslim world began to consistently and steadily build mutually respectful partnerships.

Question: Why did the news of creating the group catch a portion of the international community off guard? How was the news received internationally?

Sergey Lavrov: Most importantly, we didn’t want the creation of the group to stir rejection or suspicion among our OIC friends and partners. In fact, they strongly and enthusiastically supported this rapprochement. The fact that prominent political and public figures and spiritual leaders joined the group made understanding its true goals easier. We weren’t hiding them. We created it and continue to work within its framework transparently and in full compliance with the principles of international law. It may make some people in the West feel edgy, and some may even reject the idea, but this is their problem. The West is unwilling to accept any initiative that isn’t in line with its strategic plans. The plans entertained by current Western leaders who are toeing the line of diktat imposed by the United States do not include good, close or strategic relations between Russia and the Islamic world. But this state of affairs does not depend on Washington or other Western capitals. We have agreements within the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group and we are moving forward with them.

Notably, the group’s capabilities have expanded significantly following the organisation’s reshuffle, which was spearheaded by the current chair of the group and Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. With more than 15 years of interaction within the Strategic Vision Group, our foreign colleagues could see for themselves and on multiple occasions that its activities are marked by a truly equitable and mutually respectful dialogue, avoidance of bloc mentality and lecturing, as well as a sincere and mutual willingness and an interest in developing common approaches to current issues.

Question: Today, looking back at almost 20 years of the group’s activities, what do you think is the main achievement of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group?

Sergey Lavrov: The widespread recognition by the Islamic world of the fact that Russian Muslims are full participants in Russia’s political, economic, cultural and spiritual life and stand shoulder to shoulder with other Russians as they bravely and selflessly defend our country’s security of which the special military operation is a compelling example.

Islam in Russia is living through a renaissance and an unprecedented rise, as it continues to harmoniously coexist with other traditional religions. Our joint work revealed largely overlapping assessments of the inter-civilisational and interreligious issues that are being discussed in our country and internationally. We stand united in upholding spiritual and moral values, rejecting Islamophobia, Christianophobia or any other forms of religious intolerance.

Our OIC partners are well aware of Russia’s successful experience of building a multiethnic and multi-religious state which has been highly praised and recognised by the Islamic world. Important practical recommendations have been expressed to counter terrorism and extremism, including at the ideology level, which is important in a situation where terrorist and extremist ideologies are trying to make inroads into this sphere.

Like our other initiative, the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum international economic forum, the Strategic Vision Group provides a platform for public and civic initiatives seeking to expand cooperation with Muslim countries and identify new areas for joint efforts. Trade and economic cooperation and efforts to identify new and promising areas for joint investment by Muslim business people from Russia and other countries is one such area, and its importance is growing.