|
Chairman’s
Summary
World
Conference
on Dialogue
Vienna, 13 –
14 July 2009
Following
the
initiative
of King
Abdullah bin
Abdulaziz,
the
Custodian of
the Two Holy
Mosques,
announced at
the Madrid
World
Conference
on Dialogue
held on 15 –
17 July
2008, the
present
conference
has taken up
the task of
providing an
effective
way forward
for inter
religious
dialogue.
This follow
up
conference,
based on the
initiative
of the
Custodian of
the Two Holy
Mosques and
organized by
the World
Muslim
League, is
founded upon
the
recommendation
of the
United
Nations
General
Assembly at
its High
Level
meeting held
on November
12, 2008
called in
response to
the royal
initiative
given in his
address to
scholars and
leaders
representing
different
regions.
Our
conference
held here in
Vienna on 13th
and 14th
of July 2009
has
discussed
joint
practical
steps
necessary to
implement
the royal
initiative
in a spirit
of warm
support and
appreciation
from the
representatives
of the
religions
and
institutions
gathered
here.
During the
conference
we have
discussed a
range of
important
issues
positively
and
constructively
and in
particular:
The
importance
of freedom
of religion;
our common
responsibilities
for
preserving
the
environment
and the
human
heritage;
inter
religious
dialogue as
an
instrument
to achieve
peace and
reconciliation;
the
increased
role of
women and
young people
in dialogue;
respect for
human
dignity in a
plural
society;
joint
efforts
towards a
better
common
future for
humanity.
These
discussions
and
deliberations
have
resulted in
the
following
conclusions:
1- Renewal
of the
commendation
of the
initiative
of the Two
Holy Mosques
and
appreciation
of his
sincere call
to all
religions to
respect
human
dignity in
keeping with
the
declaration
at the World
Conference
on Dialogue
in Madrid.
In his
address the
Custodian of
the Two Holy
Mosques said
“We believe
in one
single God,
Who has sent
messengers
for the good
of mankind
in this life
and in the
hereafter.
His divine
wisdom
(Exalted be
He) made
people to
differ in
their
belief, if
He so
wanted, He
would have
made us
followers of
one single
religion, we
are gathered
here today
to ascertain
that the
religion
willed to us
by God to
make
humanity
happy should
thus be a
mean to
their
happiness”.
2-
2-Accordingly,
I am happy
to announce
that we, on
this basis,
have
discussed
the
establishment
of an
institution
to work as
an
international
center for
inter
religious
dialogue
as proposed
by the
Custodian of
the Two Holy
Mosques and
to this end
have
constituted
a
Preparatory
Working
Group (PWG)
comprised of
representatives
from the
Muslim,
Christian
and Jewish
religions
and the
President of
the
International
Peace
Institute
(IPI) as the
convener of
the PWG. The
PWG has been
established
in
consultation
with the
representatives
of the
Muslim World
League and
the
representatives
of the other
world
religions
gathered
here. The
PWG will
make
recommendations
for the
composition
of a
Steering
Committee
comprised of
named
representatives
from the
world’s
major
religions
this autumn.
3-The
next meeting
of the PWG
will take
place as
soon as
possible.
4-
The Steering
Committee’s
mandate will
be to
present
detailed
proposals
for the
establishment
of an
institution
to work as
an
international
center for
inter
religious
dialogue –
including
its mission,
organization,
governing
structure,
terms of
reference
and other
elements –
by the end
of the year.
The Steering
Committee
will consult
widely to
achieve a
broad
consensus in
relation to
the
establishment
of the
international
center.
5-
Until the
structure of
the
international
center is
determined,
the World
Muslim
League will
continue to
follow up
and
cooperate
with the IPI
in assisting
the PWG.
I would like
to thank the
Custodian of
the Two Holy
Mosques for
his
initiative
and thank
the
representatives
of the
world’s
religions
gathered
here for
their
participation
and their
continued
support for
the
initiative.
We also
thank the
Government
of Austria
for their
excellent
hosting of
this
meeting.
Finally we
thank His
Highness
Prince
Mansour bin
Khalid
al-Saud,
Ambassador
of the
Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia
in Austria
and the
Muslim World
League for
their
efforts to
make this
meeting
successful.
|