Patriarch of Moscow calls Orthodox, Muslims for joint struggle against extremism

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill urged the Orthodox and the Muslims to jointly fight extremism. He stated this at a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov.

«Traditional religions — Islam and Orthodoxy — can become partners of the state to strengthen society on the basis of peace and harmony," the head of the Kyrgyz government said.

According to the press service, the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to cultural and humanitarian cooperation, preservation of spiritual values, peace and harmony.

Orthodoxy is the second largest confession in Kyrgyzstan and plays a huge role in the spiritual life of believers. Islam and Orthodoxy in our country have always coexisted harmoniously and formed the basis for the spiritual development of our society.

Sooronbay Jeenbekov

According to the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, we urgently need to preserve and develop traditional values. He is convinced that traditional religions — Islam and Orthodoxy — can become partners of the state to strengthen society on the basis of peace and harmony.

«I want to thank you for the good relations that are being built between the two communities, including the support provided by the government and the state as a whole. We see that in Kyrgyzstan Orthodox people do not feel restrained. We see how inter-religious conflicts are raging in other countries, national unity is being destroyed. Therefore, we need to cherish and preserve all the legacy that exists in Kyrgyzstan. We are trying to build the same relations in Russia, directing our efforts to preserving and strengthening the national unity," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill noted.

He thanked the Kyrgyz government for the special attitude to the church projects that are being implemented in the country.