KAZAN, April 14. /TASS/. During a working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov invited representatives of this country to take part in the work of the strategic development group "Russia - Islamic World", the press service of the head of the Russian region announced on Wednesday.
During the visit, Rustam Minnikhanov met with members of the Presidium of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, Shefik Jaferovic and Zeljko Komšić.
"The President [of Tatarstan] spoke about the activities of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, which he heads on behalf of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also invited representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the group's work. Separately, the president [of the republic] drew attention to the importance of sharing best practices," the message reads.
Milorad Dodik assured that, on his behalf, he would contribute to the inclusion of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Group of Strategic Vision Russia-Islamic World.
"We see your state as a partner. We are very close in terms of the number of inhabitants and religious structure. I think peace and harmony are the key to further development," Rustam Minnikhanov said as quoted by the press service.
Meeting with the imam of Sarajevo
During a working trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the head of the Russian region also visited Gazi Khusrev-bega mosque, where he met with the imam of Sarajevo and the main imam of the mosque, Mensur Malkich. At the meeting he was accompanied by the Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Samigullin.
As the press service of the president of Tatarstan clarified, Rustam Minnikhanov thanked the imam for the reception and congratulated him on the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. During the meeting, the president of the republic invited Mensur Malkich to the celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria, which will be held in Tatarstan next year.
The head of the republic said that the Russian president pays great attention to the issues of building relationships with the Islamic world. The Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group has been created for that purpose. Rustam Minnikhanov noted that within the framework of official meetings he will appeal to the leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a proposal to include his representative in the group.
According to the results of the 2013 census, 3.83 million people live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) make up half of the ethnic composition of the population, Islam in the country is professed by 45% of the believers. Gazi Khusrev Bega Mosque is the most significant architectural monument of the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the first mosque in the world to be supplied with electricity.
About the group
The Group of Strategic Vision Russia-Islamic World was established in 2006 under the leadership of Yevgeny Primakov and the first President of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, after Russia joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as an observer. It includes 33 statesmen and public figures from 27 countries, including former prime ministers and foreign ministers, leading theologians from Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and other states.