Russian Fm Lavrov Demands Official Status From O.I.C.

ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov said in a press conference in Istanbul that the 31st Foreign Ministers Summit of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) was very constructive for Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov followed the 31st Foreign Ministers Summit of OIC at the 'observer status' in Istanbul on June 15-16.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, evaluating the Summit in a press conference, thanked Turkish government for inviting Russia to the Summit.
Lavrov said that Russia's good relations with Muslim countries increased Russia's interest in OIC and the observer status given to Russia also increased Russia's interest.
Lavrov said that combat against terrorism was mistakenly understood as struggle against Islam in the World and this was a very wrong idea for Russia.
"Russia's effectiveness in the region has gained importance to remove the negative ideas and Russia is waiting an 'official status' from the Organization. Russia wants to be friends of all Muslim countries in every topic," Russian Foreign Minister said.
Russian Foreign Minister said that the World community should jointly solve global problems and called 'drug and terror' as the two most important problems of the World.
Lavrov stated that Russia's policies for Afghanistan and Iraq are similar to Muslim countries' policies for these countries and Lavrov stated the intention of Russia to jointly act with OIC members to solve regional problems.
At the last Foreign Ministers Summit of OIC in Malaysia on October 16, 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the OIC to grant OIC membership to Russia. The Russian membership bid is also supported by the Russian Orthodox Church. 20 million of a total 144.5 million population in Russia are Muslims.