Mr Ivanov thanked Russia’s spiritual leaders for their unconditional support for Russia’s action against international terrorists in Syria and said that true servants of religious faith can do much today to help prevent provocation of ethnic and religious conflicts.
The meeting’s participants discussed current issues related to efforts to improve cooperation between the state authorities and clergy on harmonising interfaith and interethnic relations.
The speakers noted the great importance of this work given that Russia is a country of many religions, and proposed concrete steps to carry out the 2016–2018 implementation plan for Russia’s Ethnic Policy Strategy.
The meeting also analysed the activities of working groups the regional authorities have set up on harmonising interethnic relations and assessed the participation of religious organisations’ representatives in these groups.
Finally, the meeting discussed proposals drafted by the Council’s commissions for improving legislation and application of laws and developing international cooperation.