Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ interfaith, intercultural dialogue conference wraps up in Geneva

Meeting’s final communiqué praises King Abdullah’s pro-humanity dialogue efforts

Conference stresses support for setting up global dialogue center

The deliberations of the conference on the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures concluded in Geneva on October 1.

In a final communiqué, the participants lauded the efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to proceed with dialogue to an international level.

They expressed support for a proposal to set up an international center for dialogue that executes new programs to put the initiative in practice.

The communiqué called on the media to play the role of spreading the culture of dialogue and enhance its goals and foundations.

They confirmed keenness to forge the objectives of the dialogue in cultural and social programs.

They also confirmed that all divine religions were for mankind to worship his Creator Allah Almighty and help each other evade humanity from the effects of grievance and racial segregation and called for the consolidation of human values.

They said the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures asks for the inspiration of the principles of Islam calling for creating a world of justice, security and peace and reflects the wish of Muslims in co-existence and effective acculturation with followers of other religions and civilizations.

The conferees called on the religious leaders of the world to show more interest in the initiative.

The conference reviewed the current relations between different human civilizations, confirming the importance of correcting the misunderstanding that religions are the cause behind today's problems.

The communiqué confirmed that religion was, in principle, never part of difference of mankind, noting that some extremists from the followers of religions have given such false impression.

It also underscored the importance of Makkah Declaration calling for the establishment of an international Islamic Commission for dialogue.

The statement reviewed the sufferings of peoples in several parts of the world and their human and economic repercussions. The conferees drew the attention of cultural establishments to the contents of international resolutions preventing the spread of hatred and racial segregation.

The communiqué also called for serious cooperation to face the contemporary challenges, particularly poverty, ignorance, illness and natural disasters.

The conferees voiced support for the participation of more women and youth in future dialogue conferences.

In conclusion, they thanked the efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the field of dialogue and underscored the importance of following up the initiative to accomplish the goals put by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Under the patronage of Switzerland's Federation President Hans-Rudolf Merz, the Conference of "King Abdullah's Initiative for Dialogue among Followers of Religions and Cultures and its Impacts on Disseminating Human Values" organized by Muslim World League (MWL) had been earlier opened in Geneva.

In an inaugural speech, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches Dr. Samuel Kobia congratulated Muslims on Eid al-Fitr, appreciating the participation of all in the conference, which brings people together.

He congratulated King Abdullah for his initiative for dialogue and his quest for disseminating the values of tolerance and cooperation far away from differences and conflicts.

He welcomed the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, his call for constructive dialogue among followers of all religions and civilizations and his quest for promotion of justice, peace and understanding.

Then the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay thanked in her speech the Muslim World League for organizing this conference and inviting the High Commission for participating in the conference to contribute to disseminating human values in the world.

She welcomed the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, which was launched from Saudi Arabia, saying that this initiative provides us with the opportunity for dialogue with a view to ensure greater understanding among followers of religions.

She pointed out that human values and respect for human rights and dignity of life form the bases of all religions, noting that these values are found in all divine holy books.

Addressing the conference Dr. Bandar al-Eiban, the head of the human rights commission in the Kingdom of Saud Arabia, conveyed to the participants of the meeting the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and the Saudi government.

He noted that the conference will provide a good opportunity to enhance cooperation among representatives of beliefs and cultures and to encourage dialogue as well as to enhance the pillars of international cooperation for realizing coexistence.

He pointed out that the issue of dialogue among the followers of religions and cultures is given a great attention by King Abdullah.

He pointed out that King Abdullah had earlier made it clear that focusing on the points of differences among the followers of religions and cultures would pave the way for fanaticism as well as destructive wars and would involve the region in violence.

Dr. al-Eiban said the King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue initiative and effects on spreading human values has come after the escalation of violence and terrorism, adding that the initiative aims at helping the world to get rid of tension and to pave the way for tolerance and cooperation.

He quoted the King as saying at the world conference on dialogue held in Madrid last year that 'we believe in one God who sent messengers for the good of the mankind. Allah Almighty created people with different religions, and we gather to confirm that the religions were for ensuring the happiness of the people'.

Dr. al-Eiban said King Abdullah is keen on finding common grounds for the followers of the religions so as to help the world get rid of the existing tensions and settle disputes with a humanitarian spirit which is far away from fanaticism and extremism as well as for a world where values of justice and humanity prevail.

Dr. al-Eiban pointed out that the initiative of King Abdullah for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures was not the first of his humanitarian initiatives.

The King, who combines words with deeds, presented in 2002 a peace initiative in the Middle East which was approved by Arab summit, held in Beirut in 2002 as well as the initiative of energy for the poor in June 2008.

The Kingdom has been extending assistance to the poor countries and to the organizations concerned with combating poverty at the international level in addition to boosting the UN's credit funds, and the UN'S childhood fund.

Moreover, the Kingdom has written off debts on the developing countries and extended support to the international relief organizations for confronting disasters.

These initiatives embody the common responsibility towards the present and future of the mankind, he said.

He noted that the Kingdom's message to the world is that dialogue among religions, cooperation of civilizations, tolerance and coexistence as well as fighting poverty, hunger, disease, ignorance, and corruption should be given top priority.

This stands as a witness for the Kingdom's humanitarian style which aims at peace and stability and narrowing gap among the nations, he noted.

He said the initiative of King Abdullah aims at putting an end to disputes and tensions which threaten the regional and international peace, and moreover it aims at confronting the acute crises which threaten bases of development and the world economy.

It is the proper way for removing injustice and establishing a just and durable peace, he said.

He said the initiative serves the mankind who rejects discrimination on the bases of race, color, or religion, and rejects violence, extremism and terrorism.

It confronts who advocates hatred and fears dialogue through establishing coexistence, love and cooperation and realizing peace and security.

He said the opening of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) stands as a witness for the purpose of the initiative and embodies King Abdullah’s farsightedness.

He pointed out that KAUST will work as a center for knowledge, science, and tolerance as well as a bridge for cooperation among the civilizations and nations.

He also reiterated that dialogue aims at spreading peace, and combating culture of hatred, violence and exclusion.

He noted that the condition for proper dialogue is respect of the other, preservation of his interests and peculiarities.

Reconstruction of the world and bringing about peace are common responsibilities, he said.

He underscored the importance of justice as regards dealing with various problems, and said the heavenly religions and the noble values constitute the base for the development of religions and cultures.

Dr. al-Eiban underlines the importance of dialogue as a way for a new era.

The Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Turki delivered a speech in which he said that the conference comes within the efforts exerted by MWL to enhance dialogue, and it also comes in response to the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for dialogue among the followers of religions, civilizations and cultures.

Dr. Al-Turki thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on his patronage of this Conference. He also thanked the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information for its cooperation and efforts in this Conference.

The speech of the Swiss President was delivered by member of the Swiss delegation to the United Nations in Geneva Morrell Berst in which he thanked the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for organizing this Conference, wishing it all success.