В.Путин.Выступление при вручении.21.02.06

Speech at Ceremony Awarding the Highest Azerbaijanian Muslim Order of Sheikh Ul Islam February 21, 2006 Baku Выступление при вручении высшего азербайджанского мусульманского ордена «Шейх-уль-Ислам» 21 февраля 2006 года Баку PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Your Holiness, Dear friends, It is with gratitude that I receive this distinguished award the Order of Sheikh Ul Islam. I see it as recognition of Russias great contribution towards establishing good relations between the different religions and between the followers of the most diverse faiths. I see it as recognition for Russias contribution to promoting a dialogue between cultures and strengthening stability in the Trans-Caucasus region. The Russian Federation is a secular state, but throughout the ages it has been home to people of many different ethnic groups and faiths, who live in harmony together and respect each others convictions. We in Russia honour and follow the traditions of respect and tolerance for people of the most diverse religious convictions and views. We see this as extremely important not just in our internal political affairs but also on the international stage. This is especially true when we are talking about regions where attempts are sometimes made to use the complex and sometimes dramatic burden of historical legacy as an instrument for stirring up religious and interethnic conflict. In this respect we greatly value the efforts of the Azerbaijani leadership and the hard work of Muslim leaders to create an atmosphere of cooperation between the religions in the region. We value the firm stand taken with regard to religious extremism and international terrorism. As you know, Russia is working actively on this issue today with its partners on the international stage, including in many Muslim countries and within the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, to which Russia was unanimously admitted as a permanent observer. I think it is important in this modern world to strengthen the common moral and spiritual values that all religions share. Belief in goodness and justice, compassion and peace are basic tenets of all the worlds great religions. We support in every way policies that aim at reinforcing dialogue between peoples and religions. In this respect I welcome the initiative of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexii II, to hold the World Summit of Religious Leaders in Moscow on July 4-5. As we know, all the religions call on their followers to seek mutual understanding with the followers of other religions, and the Holy Koran directly appeals to believers to cooperate in goodness and piety and not to help in evil and hostility. We think that any insults against the feelings of believers are unacceptable and go against fundamental rights. Very sensitive issues such as these call for extreme caution. It is important to think ahead and be able to foresee the serious consequences that even just carelessly spoken words could have. That is not to mention the state authorities, who must be even more careful and responsible in the way they work.

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