Unity Is Our Strength

The gathering took place in the Cross-Cultural Centre, and was hosted by Dr Svetlana Ostrikova, Vice-Rector for Education and Youth Policy. In her welcoming address, she pointed to the fact that the Russian Federation contains many nations, and that our University has about 3,000 foreign students from 90 countries. This is, therefore, an issue of interest for us. Next, Archpriest Oleg Kobets, Rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral, noted that the challenges of our time are very serious, and they can only be answered by coming together. In his speech, Gadjiramazan Ramazanov, the chairman of the 'Peace and Creation' Muslim community of Belgorod, focused on the importance of family and universal values, the promotion within the family of love for the motherland, and the value of marriage. He noted that Islam is a global religion, which precludes nationalism and xenophobia.
The discussion was attended by Father Gennadi Postnikov, chief liaison to the Municipal Administration, Nasrula Yarakhmedov, Dagestan's representative in Belgorod Region and Deputy Chair of the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, and Ramazan Gadzhimagomedov, chief Imam for Belgorod. Dmitry Golets represented the University administration. Roman Shilishpanov, head of the Centre for Religious Studies and the Prevention of Extremism, summed up with a speech about existing religious traditions, and emphasised their creative role in countering the spread of religious extremism among young people. This prompted a general discussion.