Rustam Minnikhanov: In conditions of global changes, the cultural diversity of the world acquires special value
In the context of global change, the cultural diversity of the world and interaction for the common good acquire special value. Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov announced this at the opening of the Kazan Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. The event was held at the Kazan Town Hall. The ceremony was attended by UNESCO First Deputy Director General Sin Qu, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Sergey Kirienko, ex Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova, State Councilor of Tatarstan, UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue Mintimer Shaimiev, Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tajikistan Farid Mukhametshin and others.
"We are happy to see among our guests large scientists, recognized experts, prominent representatives of the international community. This creates good prerequisites for the successful work of the forum, "Rustam Minnikhanov said in his opening remarks.
Rustam Minnikhanov noted that with the development of technologies, people belonging to different cultures get more opportunities to exchange opinions and ideas, to get to know each other better, to get acquainted with a different way of thinking and living. On the other hand, the same technologies and life in megacities shape the trends of mass behavior, when people begin to alienate those who are not like them, who have different values and culture. In this regard, the preservation and development of languages, cultures and traditions of the peoples of the world, the development of intercultural dialogue in the name of excluding aggression, destroying the forms of information onslaught and confrontation, and the multiplying of moral and spiritual values as an important component of the education of a new generation are of particular importance, the President of Tatarstan believes. .
"Intercultural dialogue is the most important prerequisite for peace, prevention of violent extremism, respect for human rights and the promotion of mutual understanding. Dialogue makes it possible to avoid separation on ethnic, religious and cultural grounds. It is the dialogue, admittedly, that plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development. This idea underlies the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures, held under the auspices of UNESCO, "Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized.
According to him, the dialogue of cultures, the setting for interethnic harmony and interreligious mutual understanding is Russia's civilizational choice: "We cherish the past, create the present, confidently look to the future. This is our value reference, which is based on centuries-old traditions, the way of life of ordinary people and state policy. "
"Our priorities are to ensure the equality of peoples and faiths, create the necessary conditions for their free development and cooperation, a joint opposition to all forms of radicalism and intolerance. The fact that Tatarstan has developed traditions of peaceful coexistence of two world religions - Islam and Orthodoxy for many centuries - attracts everyone's attention, - Rustam Minnikhanov noted. - It is especially valuable that these traditions and the preservation of national identity underlie the Tatar theological heritage. This experience today can be claimed in the settlement of growing conflicts on religious grounds. "
According to the President of Tatarstan, the practice of interethnic cooperation is no less significant. To date, representatives of more than 170 peoples of Russia consider Tatarstan their home. The Assembly of Peoples of Tatarstan, 8 Friendship Houses of Peoples and about 100 national and cultural centers work effectively in the republic. A major role in preserving peace and harm is made by public associations. First of all, this is the World Congress of Tatars and the Federal National and Cultural Autonomy of the Tatars, the Russian National Cultural Association, the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Republic, the Tatarstan Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church and many other associations.
"Deep understanding of problems, definition of priorities and program measures is impossible without scientific comprehension. A significant role in this work is assigned to the scientific and expert community. His opinion and recommendations are taken as the basis for our decisions. A whole range of programs has been adopted in the republic, major projects in the area of state national policy are being implemented, the Bulgarian Islamic Academy has started its work, designed to become the leading scientific, educational and spiritual-educational center of our country. In addition, the Cathedral of the venerated Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is being recreated, "Rustam Minnikhanov said.
In recent years in Tatarstan, more attention is paid to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. An important result of this work was the inclusion of the Kazan Kremlin, the ancient city of Bolgar, the Assumption Cathedral and the monastery of the island of Sviyazhsk on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Rustam Minnikhanov noted that these objects reflect the deep roots of our civilization, symbolize the connection of times, the continuity of cultural traditions, attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.
"I remember the words of Irina Georgievna Bokova at the presentation of the certificate on the inclusion of the object" Assumption Cathedral and the monastery of the island of Sviyazhsk "to the UNESCO World Heritage List:" Our duty is to develop the millennial power of cultural heritage in order to reduce cultures together, to unite peoples in their diversity, regardless of time". This thesis accurately reflects the content of our work. With this you can get acquainted in the days of our forum, "Rustam Minnikhanov said.
The theme of the current forum is "The role of the UN and UNESCO in preserving the cultural diversity of mankind as an imperative of human security and sustainable development" is relevant and important, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan emphasized. The weakening of moral approaches to the solution of the most important problems of our time leads to the growth of threats, military clashes, interethnic and inter-confessional conflicts, ecological, technogenic catastrophes and social turmoil.
"We are increasingly confronted on the world stage with dictatorship, sanctions, ultimatums, unjustified aggression and provocations. These negative trends occur against the background of a lower role of international institutions and generally accepted rules, the principles of equality and mutual respect. That is why we are motivated by the awareness of the necessity of transition to moral principles when solving world problems. At the same time, education and enlightenment are the most important factor in uniting people of goodwill around ideas of intercultural dialogue and cooperation, "the President of Tatarstan said.
Rustam Minnikhanov expressed confidence that the Kazan forum on intercultural dialogue will become one of the most effective international platforms and platforms for rapprochement of cultures and the activation of mechanisms for global partnership for sustainable development. In conditions where it is difficult to achieve quick solutions, the forum and its solutions can work for the future, on the definition of policies and principles for intercultural dialogue.
"I hope that the discussions at our forum will contribute to an understanding of the place and role of moral principles in the humanization of social relations. I wish the participants and guests of the forum fruitful work, creative solutions, pleasant impressions from getting to know our republic and Kazan, "concluded Rustam Minnikhanov.
Sergey Kirienko noted that Tatarstan is a very good place for holding a forum on intercultural dialogue. "Such a dialogue has been on the territory of Tatarstan for hundreds of years. On this earth, various historical events have taken place, but for several centuries Tatarstan has been the model of peaceful coexistence of representatives of different peoples and religions, not only in the Russian Federation, but also in the global space. And if in some parts of our planet this neighborhood sometimes becomes the cause of conflicts and even tragic clashes, then in Tatarstan and in Russia as a whole we see an entirely different example. This is a matter of basic values, a basic attitude, "said the first deputy head of the presidential administration.
"Here in Tatarstan and in Russia as a whole we always proceeded and proceed from the fact that we are of different nationalities, of different creeds - this is not a problem and not our weakness, but on the contrary - our strength," added Sergey Kirienko.
In his speech, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked for the fact that Kazan was chosen as the venue for such a representative international forum. "Undoubtedly, this is connected with the significance of the role of Tatarstan in the Eurasian cultural space both in the historical past and at the present time. Positive experience of long-term cooperation with international organizations in the field of preservation of cultural heritage, rapprochement of cultures, intercultural and inter-confessional dialogue has developed in the republic, "said the State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan.
According to Mintimer Shaimiev, Tatarstan for centuries serves as a connecting thread of historical and cultural interactions on which many peoples and cultures of the past and the present are strung. Since the era of antiquity, there is a real knot of contact zones and the intersection of civilizations.
Mintimer Shaimiev emphasized that equal rights and equal attention to different religions and cultures are the basis of the state policy of the Republic of Tatarstan and a pledge of interethnic prosperity. Thus, in recent years the Annunciation Cathedral has been restored in the republic and the Kul Sharif mosque has been built, two religious shrines have been revived: the ancient city of Bolgar and the island of Sviyazhsk. Last year the Bulgarian Islamic Academy was built on the territory of Bolgar. Parallel to this, works began on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The State Adviser of the RT emphasized that all these projects were implemented on a parity, equal basis.
Speaking about the problems of establishing an effective dialogue between peoples and people, Mintimer Shaimiev, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue, concluded: "In the intercultural dialogue, the most important is the dialogue on spiritual and moral values, the goal of which is the persistent desire to understand the religious, ideological, cultural and the historical foundation of another community, and the promotion of mutual understanding and mutual respect. "
Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Bulat Nizameye