Posted on 09/01/2006 2:10:01 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Kazan(Russia), Aug 31: Officials and religious figures from Russia and more than a dozen Islamic countries kicked off a conference here that organizers said was aimed at deepening their dialogue and defending a "multipolar" world in the face of US power.
"Values cannot be imposed by force," Mintimer Shaimiyev, President of Russia`s mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan where the three-day conference was being held, said in an opening address to delegates.
"The example of Iraq has shown that democracy can only be the result of internal development. Liberal values can`t be exported like cars. A multipolar world without a system of equilibrium leads to tensions and civil war," Shaimiyev said.
Representatives of more than a dozen Islamic countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, converged on Kazan for discussions led by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, a veteran diplomat and respected Middle East expert.
In addition to historically close ties with numerous Islamic countries, Russia has 20 million Muslims among a total population of 142 million.
The country also gained observer status in the organization of the Islamic conference in 2005, and "should feel that it is part of the Muslim family," Ravil Gainutdin, President of the Russian Council of Muftis, told news persons.
"As a member of the UN Security Council, Russia will be able to actively defend the rights of Muslims and prevent rules being dictated that they oppose," Gainutdin said.
"The Islamic world wants Russia to return to the role the Soviet Union played in the Muslim world," Gainutdin said.
I think you must have misinterpreted what I was saying or maybe I was not clear. When I said cultures I meant the Communists play the East against West, Christians against Muslims, blacks against whites, what ever one culture/life style/religion/etc. is against the other.
Ain't that the truth - scratch an antisemite, or a Pole basher or a Uke basher and one usually finds a Kremlin patina.
The word of the Lord came to me; Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army - your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops - the many nations with you.'
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