Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s video message to the participants in the 9th Young Diplomats Forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, May 14, 2025

Colleagues,

Friends,

It is a great privilege for me to offer my greeting to the participants in the 9th Young Diplomats Forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. I would like to begin by thanking the leaders of Tatarstan and personally Rustam Minnikhanov for their hospitality and warm welcome. As usual, everything is organised to the highest standard.

Just a few days ago, Russia held celebrations marking 80 years of the Great Victory. We were delighted to welcome so many foreign guests on this occasion. In this context, I believe that choosing Victory Diplomacy as the forum’s main topic is quite logical. It is closely related to the 80th anniversary of establishing the United Nations.

In late June, we will be marking 20 years of Russia’s accession to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as an observer state. A major Eurasian power and a civilisation state where so many people are Muslim, Russia has built a solid track record of trust-based and friendly ties with the Islamic world. We are committed to expanding our cooperation with Muslim countries in various sectors. In fact, we share much in common, including our commitment to building a stable multipolar world order based on universally recognised international norms, as well as respecting the world’s cultural and civilisational diversity, while rejecting any neo-colonial practices, including unilateral sanctions.

Friends,

It is great that the forum offers a packed agenda. You will discuss promising avenues for cooperation between our countries, as well as opportunities for benefiting from cultural, public and sports diplomacy, as well as mastering artificial intelligence.

Of course, in the context of the UN’s 80th anniversary, I hope that you will pay special attention to its central coordinating role in international affairs and fully respecting the principles as set forth in its Charter in their entirety and interconnectedness.

I am convinced that as usual the forum will be a friendly and informal gathering that would help further unlock the potential of the so-called horizontal diplomacy. The ultimate goal of these efforts consists of promoting mutual understanding among the foreign ministries of our countries.

I wish you fruitful discussions, a positive networking experience and all the best.