President RB has held a meeting with the head of Palestinian national administration Mahmud Abbas in Ufa

The meeting of the President RB Rustem Khamitov with the head of Palestinian national administration Mahmud Abbas has taken in Ufa. The members of Palestinian delegation and the representatives of the leadership RB took part in it.

“It is honor for us to receive you in Ufa” – the President of Bashkortostan said, welcoming the guest – “Your visit is an important historical event for our Republic. Bashkortostan was always open for friendship and cooperation especially with the nations, with which we were connected with the centuries-long cultural relations. First of all I mean Islam, which came to us from the Arab world and played the most outstanding role in consolidation of Bashkir nation and in formation of its national spirit and character”.

Rustem Khamitov has mentioned that Ufa is the center, uniting all citizens of Russia, preaching Islam. The Central Clerical Muslim Dept works here during more than 200 years. At that Bashkirs always grasped Islam as a religion of peace and concord.

“The number of Muslims and Christians, inhabiting our Republic, is approximately equal and Bashkortostan is the example how people of different religions live side by side centuries long, solving common problems together. Our religions serve the consolidation of the nations, their cultures and their mutual enrichment. Such harmonious relations represent an important prerequisite for dynamic economics and well-developed social sphere” – the President RB stated.

Rustem Khamitov has mentioned Bashkortostan needs the partners for solving the problems the Republic faces now and the relations with Palestine have the great potential, which it is necessary to make a reality. The head of Bashkortostan has invited Palestinian delegation to visit Bashkortostan for more detailed investigation of its experience on organization of the inter-religious dialogue and on development of multinational culture and education.

“We’d like to make our contacts with you more systematical and hope it will bring us good results in the interests of our nations” - Rustem Khamitov said.

The head of Palestinian national administration has told that one year ago during the meeting with the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev he had expressed the desire to visit Republic of Bashkortostan. Dmitry Medvedev has said it was an excellent choice. Mahmud Abbas has mentioned that now, being in the Republic, he understands that such meetings should be continued in the future. “Bashkortostan is the example of cooperation of people of all religions, the example of peaceful coexistence” – he underscored.

Mahmud Abbas told the President RB about situation in the relations between Palestine and Israel and in eastern Jerusalem and mentioned that everybody was tired of the conflicts and collisions, continuing there during more than 60 years.

“We are travelling all over the world in order to gain the support in our peaceful initiatives” – he mentioned.

Mahmud Abbas has highly estimated the prospects of cooperation with Bashkortostan and invited the President RB to visit Palestine to know the life of Palestinians better.

Rustem Khamitov has thanked Mahmud Abbas for this invitation, mentioning that the striving for peace is the main thing for the man and for the country.

“We’d like Palestine would develop, having stable economics. Bashkortostan possesses powerful economics and ready to do what one can help, you may always figure on us” – Rustem Khamitov underscored.