2nd International Media Forum “Journalists of Muslim Countries against Extremism” Kicks off in Moscow
MOSCOW, (ST)- The fight against terrorism necessitates that all efforts of the international community should be united and the rules of the international law should be respected, the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and North Africa and Deputy foreign minister of Russia Michael Bogdanov has underscored.
Bogdanov was speaking during the 2nd International Media Forum “Journalists of Muslim Countries against Extremism” which kicked off in Moscow yesterday with the participation of 43 leading journalists from 19 Muslim countries. The two-day event, which was organized by the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World” chaired by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, aims to continue the discussion of the information policy in the fight against extremists.
Bogdanov said Russia has greatly contributed to the international anti-terrorism process in Syria and expressed readiness to reach agreement on cooperation with other partners in this process.
“Moscow’s doors are opened to all who are interested in uprooting terrorism and extremism, Bogdanov added.
He pointed out that “with active efforts from Russia, several international documents on fighting terrorism were adopted including the Security Council Resolutions 2170, 2178, 2199, 2253 and 2254.
He urged journalists of the Arab and Muslim countries and their Russian colleagues to seek forming a right Muslim youth public opinion that serves their societies and the future of their countries.
Coordinator of the Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World” Veniamin Popov said “fighting international terrorism can’t be done only through military means or through drying up the financial resources of terrorism, but also through uncovering the theoretical principles on which terrorism depends to get strength.”
Anti-terror media war needed
“The media has a very important role to play in the war against international terrorism which has terribly spread in the Middle East and begun to expand towards Europe, Popov added.
He clarified that Russia, unlike the West, is seeking unifying the Islamic countries, solving disputes in the Islamic world and defending the true original Islamic values against extremist mentality.
In his message to participants of the conference, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said that the “terrorists are using Islam as a cover to commit most heinous crimes in the history of humanity.” He added journalists’ mission is now to combat terrorism through uncovering its supporters from Arab and Islamic countries.
This confirms once again that in order to win the war against terrorism it is necessary to unite efforts because this disease is threatening the whole world and seeks to sow chaos everywhere.
Hamda Mustafa