Moscow, 19 February 2008 (Interfax):
The Council of Muftis of Russia distanced itself from the recent statements of its co-chairman, Mufti Nafigulla Ashirov, on the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. “The Council of Muftis of Russia is closely following the situation in the Balkans that arose as a result of the secession of Kosovo from Serbia, and it expresses the hope that all actions shall follow the standards of international law and the basic documents of the United Nations”, said a press release of the Council given to journalists on Tuesday in Moscow.
The release noted that all resolution of political questions of an international nature is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since this is so, the Council of Muftis “consider that the position of the Russian government concerning the Kosovo problem is normative, and we express the hope that international bodies shall act to preserve peace and calm in the region. As far as statements made by individual clerics are concerned, they can certainly express their personal point of view, however, such are not the common and official position of the Council of Muftis of Russia”.
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=22968 (in Russian)
