http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/12/...imfriend.shtml

Created: 12.12.2005 18:05 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 18:05
MSK, 4 hours 37 minutes ago

MosNews

Russia is the most reliable partner of the Islamic
world and most faithful defender of its interests,
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Chechnya's
capital Grozny. Putin unexpectedly visited the
war-ravaged republic to speak in the local parliament
that opened for its first sitting on Monday.

"Russia has always been the most faithful, reliable
and consistent defender of the interests of the
Islamic world. Russia has always been the best and
most reliable partner and ally. By destroying Russia,
these people (terrorists) destroy one of the main
pillars of the Islamic world in the struggle for
rights (of Islamic states) in the international arena,
the struggle for their legitimate rights," Putin was
quoted by Itar -Tass as saying, drawing applause from
Chechen parliamentarians.

"Those who are trying to defend these false
(extremist) ideals, those who are used as cannon
fodder, who plant a mine for ten dollars or shoot with
automatic weapons either do not know or have forgotten
this," the president said.

"Those who organize such activity certainly do this
deliberately, understanding what goals they want to
achieve," Putin went on to say.
The leaders of the main Islamic states understand
this, he added.

"For this reason their representatives were present at
the general voting in the referendum on the
Constitution of the Chechen Republic, they were at the
presidential elections; both the Organization of
Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States, our
colleagues and friends were present at the elections
to the parliament."

Putin said that "member countries of the Organization
of Islamic Conference have unanimously passed a
decision that Russia will begin working as an observer
on a permanent basis".

"And we shall continue our activity within the
framework of this organization. Quite recently a
delegation of Russia's Muslims has been to Mecca to
discuss the problems of Muslim world development with
their brothers. I repeat: Russia will pursue this
policy," the president added.

President Vladimir Putin paid a surprise
morale-boosting visit to Chechnya Monday, flown into
the war-wracked province by helicopter under tight
security. Putin declared the turbulent region was on
the road to peace.

Russia, a country with a total population of
approximately 144 million, has 23 million Muslim
residents representing 38 peoples, according to the
Council of Muftis of Russia.