MOSCOW, June 11. /TASS/. Russia is ready to coordinate efforts with Muslim countries in fighting terrorism and looking for peaceful ways to settle regional conflicts, according to the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address to the session of the "Russia-Islamic World" strategic vision group read out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.
"Russia has launched active cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the observer status precisely 10 years ago," the president said in the address. "Since then, our friendly ties with Muslim countries have considerable strengthened," he noted.
Putin also drew special attention to the fact that Islamic countries are Russia’s important partners "in promoting dialogue between cultures, supporting variety of development paths and civilizational models."
"Russia’s history serves as a good example of harmonious coexistence of different [religious] denominations, first of all of Christianity and Islam," Putin stressed. "Today the Islamic world is going through serious trials connected with escalation of terrorism and extremism, bloodshed and internecine wars," he added.
The president noted in the address that armed interference, blackmailing and sanctions pressure are used against countries defending their national interests. "It cannot but arise serious concerns for us," he said. "We are confident that the Islamic world can withstand this," he added.
Russia is "ready for coordination of efforts in fighting against terrorism and looking for peaceful ways of settling regional conflicts," the Russian president stressed.
"I hope that the activity of the strategic vision group will help assure values of religious tolerance and humanism all over the world," he concluded.