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19.01.2000 13:00       RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press and Information Department      RF MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ABOUT THE VISIT OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ORGANISATION'S DELEGATION

         

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A delegation of senior officials of the Islamic Conference Organisation (ICO) led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, D. Zarif, was on a working visit in Moscow on January 17-18.

The representatives of ICO were received by the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov and had talks with his deputy Grigory Karasin. The delegation met the Minister for Federation and Nationalities Affairs A. Blokhin, Minister Abdulatipov, Deputy Minister for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Response to Natural Disasters S. Khetagurov as well as Chairman of the Muslim council of the European part of Russia, R. Gainutdin.

In the course of the talk with Igor Ivanov the members of the delegation were briefed on the anti-terrorist operation of the federal forces in the North Caucasus, measures to restore normal life in the areas of Chechnya liberated from bandit units, and the efforts to alleviate the plight of temporarily displaced persons and ensure conditions for their return home.

The Russian Minister stressed that terrorism, in whatever garb, is a common enemy both for us and for the Muslim countries, an enemy that should be resisted by joint efforts. In combating this enemy Russia is performing its international obligations and stopping the threat of the spread of extremism to neighbouring regions.

The hope was expressed that the ICO countries will continue to firmly adhere to the position in support of the sovereignty and integrity of the Russian Federation and non-interference in its internal affairs. It was pointed out that the Russian side appreciated the humanitarian assistance rendered by the Muslim countries to temporarily displaced persons through the channels of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations.

The delegation confirmed the immutable position of the ICO in favor of the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, non-interference in its internal affairs, its condemnation of terrorism as a phenomenon totally in contradiction to the basic principles of Islam. Concern was expressed over the danger of the spread of extremism from the territory of North Caucasus to adjacent Muslim countries. The Islamic Conference Organisation states stressed the wish to send additional humanitarian relief to the North Caucasus region. The members of the delegation stressed that the Muslim countries were interested to see Russia preserve an active role in international affairs and build up political interaction with Russia.