On the 28th of June an International Conference dedicated to the phenomenon of Islamic extremism will be held in Moscow. The Conference organizing committee is headed by Gennadi Seleznyev, State Duma Speaker, and Talgat Tadjuddin, Supreme Mufti and Chairman of the Central Muslim Spiritual Board for Russia and European Countries of the CIS.

The participating members at the Conference are the Ambassadors and the official representatives of Islamic states, the Ambassadors of the CIS governments and the Ambassadors of other countries, concerned with Islamic issues.

The objective of the Conference will be to give a clear definition of the phenomenon of Islamic extremism, to uncover theological, conceptual, political and practical specifics of those Islamic (or quasi Islamic movements), which stand in the epicenter of the propagation of terrorism, separatism, inter-religious and ethnic conflicts.

Special attention will be focused on the structures of radical international Islamic organizations, on their philosophy and on their methods of penetration into the domains of traditional Islam and other existing social and political institutions. Conference will discuss the destructive influence the extremist organizations have on the world of traditional Islam, the interconnection between theology and political action.

We expect the conference to give social and juridical classifications of such concepts as “vakkhabism”, “ikkhvanism”, “salafism”, etc. We intend to suggest a new pattern of diplomatic and strategic approach to resolution of the most troublesome conflicts in which Islamic extremism plays a significant role (Northern Caucasus, Chechnya, Tadzhikistan, Afganistan, Kirgizia).

Another objective of the conference is to form the list of recommendations concerning the development of consistent, long-term strategy of interrelations between Russian Federation and the Islamic world. The Conference organizing committee believes that the approved concepts of such interrelations should find their place in Russian law acts, Governmental issues, Presidential decrees and resolutions of the State Security Council. The Conference organizing committee hopes that the activities of the conference will help to give growth to an intensified inter-ethnic and inter-religious talks, will promote peace, friendship and cooperation between countries, peoples and social and cultural groups.

The new geopolitical reality of the XXI century demands new decisions, formulas and concepts of world-wide cooperation and resistance to extremist elements whatever religious, national or social orientation they might use for a cover.

The participants at the Conference are Gennadi Seleznev, State Duma Speaker, and Talgat Tadjuddin, Supreme Mufti and Chairman of the Central Muslim Spiritual Board for Russia and European Countries of the CIS. , representatives of Russian Orthodox Church, A. Ignatenko, PHD in History, A. Dugin, PHD in Philosophy, V. Belokrenitsky, PHD in History, R. Landa, Professor.

The conference will open at 10 AM on the 28th of June 2001 at the President Hotel. Address: Bolshaya Yakimanka ul., 24.

Live translation of the conference will be on air at the main foyer of the Hotel on big screen. During the break (at 1 PM) a press briefing will be held.

To join please contact the Conference organizing committee. To register for press accreditation please contact the Conference organizing committee before June 27th 2001 (until 3 PM).

Deputy Chairman of the Conference organizing committee,
Public Relations Coordinator
P. Suslov