13/10/2010 President
Strasbourg, 13.10.2010 – “Intensifying inter-religious and intercultural dialogue is one of the best ways of combating xenophobia, racism, anti-semitism and islamophobia, which seem to be on the rise in many European societies,” PACE President Mevlüt Çavusoglu has said, speaking at the start of a visit to Moscow from 13 to 14 October. He is holding meetings with religious dignitaries: Patriarch Cyril of Moscow and All-Russia, the Grand Mufti of Russia and Chair of Russia’s Council of Muftis Sheik Ravil Gainutdin and the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar. He expressed his appreciation at the good relations existing between the different religions in the Russian Federation, which he said were developing in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect.
Recalling that the promotion of intercultural and inter-religious dialogue was one of his priorities, the President announced that the Assembly was preparing a debate on this topic in April 2011 with the participation of the Prime Ministers of Turkey and Spain, as co-chairs of the Alliance of Civilisations, together with religious leaders from across Europe. “It is essential to increase mutual understanding and respect between different cultures and religions by emphasising the profound values that we have in common, mainly our respect for human beings and human dignity,” he stressed.
The PACE President invited the religious leaders to address the Parliamentary Assembly, if possible in 2011. He also recalled that during the Bureau’s audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in September 2010, he had invited the pontiff to Strasbourg to address the Assembly.
During his meeting with the Patriarch, the President welcomed the positive contribution to inter-religious dialogue in Russia of the Inter-religious Council, which brings together representatives of the Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist religions, established under the patriarchy of Alexis II.
Later today, Mr Çavusoglu will give a lecture at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Tomorrow he will meet Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Council of the Federation, and will speak at the opening of an international symposium on education in Europe.