MADRID: Former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu urged the world media to look at Islam’s real stand toward Judaism, Christianity and other religions in order to get a glimpse at the untarnished image of Islam.
“The greatest tragedy suffered by Islam is the generalization of isolated events particularly by media in the West,” Constantinescu said while addressing the first session of the interfaith conference here yesterday.
The three-day interfaith conference organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), which was opened by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Wednesday, concluded here yesterday.
Former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, currently the UN high representative for the alliance of civilizations, said that the vision of King Abdullah was for a better future in the era of globalization. In his speech read out at the conference, Sampaio attributed most of the modern-day wars arising out of political reasons, social discrimination, injustice and political imbalances.
The UN high representative also discussed various steps taken by the United Nations to bring about peace and peaceful coexistence at various troubled regions. “If we intend this historic meet to be a success we must turn to the common features that bring us together here, such as the deep faith in God, the noble qualities and high moral values, which are the basic features of all religions,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, MWL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Turki expressed satisfaction at the cooperation extended by various religious leaders for the conference.
“The participants of various religions and philosophies have expressed their desire to engage in fruitful dialogue with true cooperation that would certainly defuse the crises facing the modern world and counter the calls for clashes of civilizations and thus finally achieve universal happiness,” Al-Turki said.
He added that the participants emphasized the need for the preservation of the environment and maintaining family attachment and social cohesion besides upholding religious values.
The MWL chief thanked King Abdullah, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for the success of the conference. He also expressed his gratitude to the participants and media for their cooperation.
Rabbi Steven Jacob, the founder of the Jewish Advanced Faith Foundation, described the conference as a historical gathering that provided a good opportunity to get acquainted with followers of revealed religions and oriental philosophies. He expressed optimism that the conference will reach positive results.
Meanwhile, C. Walton Gandhi, president of the Alliance of Common Grounds Among Religions in Washington D.C., described the conference as the proper step in the right direction for a fruitful and influential cooperation. He pointed out that dialogue is the best way to realize peaceful coexistence.
Hindu leader Swami Agnivesh, who spoke on the second day, said: “Yes I believe in Allah the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent. The most fundamental thing to make our effort a success is to cultivate the power of love.”
