GENEVA: The interfaith initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will mobilize worldwide support as it aims to bring together humanity on the basis of shared values and to make joint efforts to resolve common problems and challenges, said Abdulaziz Bin Salamah, deputy minister of culture and information for foreign information.
“People of goodwill from different religions and cultures around the world are reassured that there is a sincere effort on the part of King Abdullah through this historic initiative to join hands in order to solve global challenges and problems facing humanity,” Bin Salamah told Arab News at the media center set up by the ministry for the interfaith conference, which was opened at Geneva Inter.Continental on Wednesday.
“Humanity is facing serious problems, such as family disintegration, moral degradation, drug abuse, poverty and terrorism, that demand cooperation from people all over the world, irrespective of their religion and culture. King Abdullah’s initiative is a great step toward achieving this global human unity,” the deputy minister said.
The king’s initiative has generated a feeling of confidence among people of goodwill that they are not left alone, he said, adding that it motivates them to work together in a coordinated manner, inspired by their religions and cultures. “It also gives them hope about the future,” he said.
However, he stressed that the dialogue should make consistent progress in order to win public confidence and attention.
Speaking about the media arrangements, he said the ministry had taken early measures to ensure media professionals from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the world are well assisted to cover the conference’s proceedings.
“The foreign information agency at the ministry sent a team to Geneva several days before the conference to make the necessary arrangements for TV channels, radio stations and news agencies,” he said.
The ministry also facilitates interviews by the media persons with participants, prepares news reports on the themes of the conference and makes press releases on various sessions for distribution among reporters. The ministry has set up a well-equipped media center that can accommodate about 50 journalists at a time.
“We have sent invitations to all the media organizations in Geneva as well as in the Arab and Muslim world. The Saudi media is represented by three government TV channels, Saudi Radio and the Saudi Press Agency in addition to different private channels and major newspapers. We also pay attention to the documentation of events in addition to making the necessary arrangements for press conferences,” he added.
Asked about the ministry’s strategy to make the king’s initiative a success, Bin Salamah said: “We are working in close cooperation with the Muslim World League for the success of this conference and other related conferences and forums to take the message to people all over the world. We also encourage journalists to focus on major developments of the interfaith dialogue as well as on the Madrid Declaration that was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 2008,” he said.
