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Saudi conference urges global anti-terror pact
Terrorism is an international issue and there should be a global agreement to address the root causes, said the document issued by the World Inter-faith Conference on Dialogue that ended here on Friday. "Terrorism is a universal phenomenon that requires international efforts to combat it in a serious, responsible and just way," said the document called the Madrid Declaration.The Islamic, Christian and Jewish leaders also appealed for a United Nations special session to promote dialogue and prevent "a clash of civilisations". The declaration said the main objective of all religions and cultures should be efforts for achieving peace, honouring agreements and respecting traditions of people and their right to security, freedom and self determination. The conference also called for more "ways of enhancing understanding and co-operation among people despite differences in their origin, colour and language", and a "rejection of extremism and terrorism". The statement was read to the closing session by Muslim World League Deputy Secretary General Abdul Rahman al-Zaid, which had organised the conference through an initiative by Saudi King Abdullah. More than 300 delegates attended the gathering in Madrid, aimed at bringing the world's great monotheistic faiths closer together. Among them were World Jewish Congress Secretary General Michael Schneider, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who is responsible for the dialogue between the Vatican and Muslims. The participants called on the UN General Assembly to call a special session to support the recommendations of the conference "in enhancing dialogue among the followers of religions, civilisations and cultures". Posted by: Fred 2008-07-19 |
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