Statement of the Interreligious Council of Russia

An extraordinary session of the Interreligious Council of Russia was held on 20 December 2005. The statement adopted at the session is given below.

The Presidium of the Interreligious Council of Russia regrets the publication of Roman Silantyev’s book ‘Modern History of the Islamic Community of Russia.’ The Interreligious Council of Russia once again underscores that this book expresses author’s private opinion and cannot be associated with the stand taken by any member of the Council. Silantyev was relived of his post of the ICR executive secretary at the present session.

It is necessary to take due account of a possibility of using the attempts to worsen relations among the followers of traditional religions of Russia by external forces interested in provoking interethnic and interreligious conflicts.

We are confident that the culture of interreligious dialogue should be enhanced. We call upon all Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists to remember our centuries-long friendly relations and mutually advantageous cooperation, to think about the future of Russia, not giving in to the calls of extremists and trying to refrain from any words and actions that may engender mutual offences and perplexities.