8 November 2005 – Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations reported to the Department the unanimous adoption of the Philippine-initiated resolution A/60/L.4/Rev,1 entitled “ Promotion of inter-religious dialogue and cooperation for peace” co-sponsored by 45 countries. In addition to the 27 countries listed in the attached resolution, the General Assembly President announced the following additional co-sponsors: Argentina, Belize, Cambodia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Mongolia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Ambassador Baja said that all the participants/sponsors of the Philippine initiated informal interfaith summit held last September and the interfaith conference held last June, co-sponsored the resolution.

The number of co-sponsors this year almost doubled that of last year and the co-sponsors represent the different regions and religions, developing and developed, large and small countries, which according to Ambassador Baja, indicates an emergent interest the Philippines has generated in the field of interfaith dialogue and cooperation as a significant medium for the promotion of global peace.

According to Ambassador Baja, the text of the present resolution has amplified its predecessor by the distinct recognition given to the interfaith dialogue in the World Summit Outcome (PP3), the role of the interfaith dialogue in the combat against terrorism (PP4), and the expanded scope of the interfaith dialogue to encompass the promotion and protection of human rights (PP5).

Ambassador Baja also pointed out that a great degree of attention is given to the new elements written in OP2 on UNESCO’s flagship project on the promotion of interfaith dialogue as well as on OP3, which places interfaith dialogue at the core of and as an important link among all the overarching multilateral programs on the promotion of peace and mutual understanding among cultures and civilizations at the national, regional, sub-regional and international levels. END