OSCE Mediterranean Conference on Common Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities Session III: The role of Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue - Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE

OSCE Mediterranean Conference on Common Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities Session III: The role of Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue

20 October, 2015

OSCE Mediterranean Conference on Common Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities Session III: The role of Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue Statement delivered by Ambassador Arman Kirakossian

Jordan, Sweimeh, October 20, 2015

Mr. Moderator

We highly value interreligious and intercultural dialogue as an important mechanism to tackle the issue of extremism and radicalization.

The region of Middle East is the birthplace of world religions and civilizations. Christianity and Islam have co-existed and influenced each other for centuries in this region. Many religious symbols are sacred for both religions. The example of Jordan is illustrative in this context. Jordan is a model for co-existence and mutually enriching dialogue between Christianity and Islam. Throughout history it has served as safe haven for thousands of Christians and Muslims, who have fled their war-torn countries. The Armenian nation is indebted to the friendly Arab people, which helped us to withstand the challenge of complete annihilation and eventually revive.

In recent years we witness serious security challenges, which threaten the very nature of the Middle East as cradle of civilizations, world religions and world culture. Violent extremism, radicalization and terrorism target different ethnic and religious minorities. The conflicts and wars in recent years have resulted in drastic decrease of the Christian population in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq, which faces today existential threat.

With perishing and exodus of Christians from the region ages-old traditions of interfaith dialogue and tolerance will be lost. The destruction of the ancient cultural masterpieces is an attempt to erase the memory of other people, destroy monuments of millennia-old cultures and civilizations.

In the light of current negative developments in the region, we need to strengthen cooperation between the OSCE participating States and Mediterranean Partners for cooperation in the following areas:

- Promote and encourage education on history, religion, traditions, role of the ethnic and religious minorities.

- Adopt measures to promote full respect for and protection of places of worship, religious sites, symbols and cemeteries.

- Promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue, with focus on youth.

- Design and implement regional and national programs, aimed at promoting trust, confidence and reconciliation.

- Highlight patterns of intolerance and discrimination including with regard of past grave crimes perpetrated against minorities in order to better understand and proactively address intolerance and discrimination.

Thank You.

MFA RA
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