Tirana Summit commits to foster Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Dialogue

UNESCO Culture: Tirana Summit commits to foster Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Dialogue

"The event, organized at the initiative of the President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, ended today with the adoption of the Tirana Summit Declaration on Inter-Religious and Inter-Ethnic Dialogue in South-East Europe.

"'Everywhere, inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogue represents a significant feature of social cohesion and stability,' said Mr Matsuura in his opening address. 'In South-East Europe, such dialogue carries particular importance both historically and in current political contexts,' he added."

-----

"In the Declaration, the 150 participants 'reaffirm that mutual respect, rooted in open dialogue and nourished by multi-ethnicity, multi-culturality and multi-religiosity is indispensable for the preservation of peace" and that "religion must not be part of the problem, but part of the solution.' The text adopted at the Summit further states that 'minorities can constitute bridges of connection, friendship and understanding between peoples and countries.'"

The Tirana Summit website