The Egyptian president is in Russia on an official visit.
"I was one of the first to welcome Russia's joining the OIC. This step will contribute to boosting cooperation of the international community and overturning the theory of antagonism between civilizations and cultures," Hosni Mubarak said.
The talk is about a popular theory of American philosopher Samuel Huntington who in his The Clash of Civilizations book advanced a concept that the 21st century will become the century of war between the Islamic and Christian civilizations.
The Egyptian president stressed that now the world community is living through a hard period facing new challenges and threats.
"It is in our common interests to give the developments an exact estimate without being influenced by simplified concepts," Mubarak said.
He emphasized that the concept of the clash of civilizations and cultures may lead to aggravation of the international situation and provoke the consolidation of the idea of superiority of one nation to another.
In his speech Mubarak said that Egypt believes that the situation in the Middle East demands immediate interference by the international community, "especially the Quartet of international intermediaries where Russia plays a key role" (Russia, the U.S., the UN and the EU).
In his words, at the latest summit of the Arab League in Tunisia, it was confirmed that the Saudi plan of Mideast settlement voiced at the Arab League's last summit in Beirut is the only possibility to put an end to confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis.
Russia's and Egypt's opinions coincide not only in the issues of settling regional conflicts, but also in the issues of reforms in the Middle East, said the Egyptian president.
"When reforms are conducted, specific features of all countries must be taken into account, including religious, social and cultural aspects," said the Egyptian president.
"It's important for us that reformation should start parallel to the resolution of the Palestinian and Iraqi problems," he said.
"Special relations between Egypt and Russia are strategically important," Mubarak said. "We are sure that this potential must be used for dialogue between the civilizations," he added.
Speaking about the situation around Iraq, the Egyptian president said it's necessary to stop occupation of that country by coalition forces and pass the sovereignty to the Iraqi nation.
"It's necessary to put an end to the miserable situation the Iraqi people are in," Mubarak said.
Besides, in the president's opinion, "Iraq must remain a united but multiethnic state." On Saturday Hosni Mubarak was awarded with the title of MGIMO honorary doctor. In accordance with the status, Institute Rector Anatoly Torkunov gave him a relevant diploma, after which he was dressed up in a doctor's gown. The traditional students' anthem concluded the ceremony.
