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Putin vows Russia to remain friend, ally of Islamic world

MOSCOW, May 27 (KUNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Moscow would remain a friend and ally of the Islamic World, stressing that it is ready for providing a helping hand to face existing risks and challenges.
The Islamic World considers also Russia as a friend, and is ready for helping in the fight against challenges and risks, and for addressing pressing problems, Putin said in a speech read out by Russian President's Special Envoy to the Middle East Michael Bogdanov in a meeting on "Russia's strategic vision and the Islamic World".
Putin stressed the importance of issues discussed by the meeting held in Kazan, Tatarstan's capital, focusing on many latest developments in some of Muslim countries.
There was a strong strike, supported by Russia, directed to the "terrorists" in Syria, Putin said in the speech, warning that those "terrorists" are trying constantly to destabilize the situation and underline international efforts aiming to settle the conflict there.
They also are trying to achieve their goals through exploiting sectarian differences, he added.
In addition to Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, the meeting features a number of senior officials from Russia, and Arab and Muslim countries. (end) as.hm