"I would like to develop cooperation between UNAOC and Russia through both government and Russian civil society institutions. Let me emphasize that at the UNAOC we seek strong cooperation with Russia," Nasser said at the ceremony of signing a memorandum of understanding between the Alliance and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
According to Nasser, the world today faces grave civilization, identity and religious tensions which can be seen in the ongoing migration crisis, while the Russian government makes "efforts to reduce these tensions and find peaceful solution to one of the most difficult challenges facing the international community."
Nasser expressed certainty that the sides would be able to "make a significant contribution to foster civilizational dialogue" and added that a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held earlier in the day was "fruitful" for the future of Russia-UNAOC cooperation.
UNAOC, established in 2005, works towards a "more peaceful, more socially inclusive world, by building mutual respect among peoples of different cultural and religious identities, highlighting the will of the world’s majority to reject extremism and embrace diversity," according to the alliance's vision statement.
