Solemn signing of a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation between Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma” and Spiritual Centre of Sunni Muslims of Lithuania took place in Donetsk. This document, which is important for both parties, was signed on September 19, 2013 after the closing ceremony of the III International Research and Practice Conference “Al-Wasatiyyah Principle In Islam”.

Mufti of RAMU “Umma” Said Ismagilov and the Head of RAMU “Ummah” Islyam Gimadutin represented Ukrainian Muslims, and Romas Jakubauskas, Mufti of Lithuanian Muslims and the Head of Spiritual Centre of Sunni Muslims of Lithuania represented Lithuanian Muslims. The contract stipulates developing bilateral spiritual contacts, mutual assistance and participation in religious, cultural and scientific events.

Relying on future cooperation, Mufti of RAMU “Umma” Said Ismagilov stressed that Muslims in Ukraine and Lithuania have much in common: “We are not only close in religious aspects, as both parties belong to Sunni Muslims, but also in aspects of culture and mindset.”

He explained this congeniality with the fact that most of the Lithuanian Muslims are descendants of Crimean Tatars who served for Lithuanian Princes in the Medieval. So, based on the genes, most of Ukrainian, Belarussian, Lithuanian and Polish Muslims ascend to the same ethnic origin and have common traits in culture.

Said Ismagilov stressed that such religious, culture and mindset congeniality can be a good basis for future consolidation and closer cooperation between Muslims of the Central Europe and Muslims of Ukraine, Belarus, Baltic countries, Moldova, Poland and Romania.

It bears reminding that similar Treaty of Amity and Co-operation was signed on November 30, 2011 between Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma” and Religious Administration of Muslims in Belarus. It’s main role was defined for mutual cooperation and assistance in reviving Islamic practice and developing Muslim communities of Ukraine and Belarus for the sake of peace, well-being and welfarism of both states. Besides, RAMU “Ummah” has a close and productive relationship with Mufriat in the Republic of Moldova.

Source: umma.in.ua