http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=112003&d=21&m=7&y=2008
Monday 21 July 2008 (17 Rajab 1429)
UN urged to adopt recommendations of Madrid forum
P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News
Muhammad bin Ahmed Tayeb
JEDDAH: Muhammad bin Ahmed Tayeb, director general of the Foreign
Ministry's regional office, has called upon the United Nations to adopt the
resolutions taken by last week's interfaith conference in Madrid as working
plans for its various organizations.
He said the World Conference on Dialogue in the Spanish capital which was
called by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, was a big success in
terms of the large-scale participation of the leaders of different faiths, and
the important resolutions it passed.
"We consider this interfaith conference as a turning point in history. It
reflects the vision of King Abdullah who wants to promote constructive dialogue
among followers of different religions for the benefit of humanity," Tayeb told
Arab News.
Nearly 300 delegates representing Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism,
Hinduism and other faiths from over 50 countries attended the conference, which
was opened by King Abdullah on Wednesday in the presence of Spain's King Juan
Carlos.
"I hope the United Nations Security Council and other UN agencies will
adopt the principles agreed upon at the conference as guidelines for promoting
world peace and preventing attacks and discrimination on a sectarian basis," he
said.
Tayeb urged all countries to include the importance of dialogue in their
educational curricula, as well as in their regulations, in order to develop a
culture of dialogue.
Tayeb said the conference's success would depend on how the world
responded to King Abdullah's great initiative and how it seized the momentum
set in motion by the Saudi leader. "It is the joint responsibility of the
followers of all religions to reciprocate positively in order to build on this
initiative," he added.
The Saudi official emphasized that the conference would have great impact
on international relations. "We know that religions play a big role in
promoting peace and stability and peaceful coexistence among them will boost
cooperation among nations," he added.
He said the delegates had agreed that religion is to unite humanity, not
to divide it. "By holding this conference, we Muslims have succeeded in
projecting the true face of Islam that stands for peace, justice, equality and
tolerance," he added.
"Islam has a universal message and calls for peaceful coexistence with
followers of other religions and it does not want to impose its principles and
teachings on other communities," he explained.
In a related development, the Shoura Council commended King Abdullah for
organizing the Madrid conference at a time when world peace is threatened by
wars, violence and terrorism.
A statement issued by the council hoped that the conference would play a
big role in highlighting the humanitarian face of Islam and removing
misconceptions about it.
"It was a good opportunity to establish bridges of contacts with other
faiths and uphold common human values," it said
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