ROMULO CHAIRS KEY INTERFAITH DIALOGUE MEETING AT UN

27 September 2007, United Nations, New York – With momentum steadily increasing behind the interfaith dialogue initiatives of the Philippines at the UN, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo today convened and chaired the Second Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace.

The annual meeting was a result of the decision of the Interfaith Dialogue Summit at the UN that was chaired by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005.  The ministerial meeting is to take stock of the progress of efforts to enhance the promotion of a culture of peace through inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation for peace.

At the meeting, Secretary Romulo welcomed three new members, H.E. Mr. Sergei Martynov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus ; H.E. Mr. Mohamed Banaisa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco ; and H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia .

In reviewing the progress of their work, Secretary Romulo pointed out that an important accomplishment for the past year was the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 61/221, entitled Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace.

Among other provisions, resolution 61/221 also requested the UN Secretary-General to designate a focal unit in the Secretariat to monitor interfaith and intercultural developments and to apprise him on these developments

At the meeting, Secretary Romulo reiterated two important principles contained in the Declaration of the 2005 Interfaith Dialogue Summit.

“First, we remain convinced that a culture of peace can be enhanced by inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation, which further promote mutual understanding, respect and tolerance among religions, cultures and civilizations,” the Secretary said.

“Second, we urge that the conduct of inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation be guided by our common humanity and by the understanding that the rich diversity of cultures, civilizations and religions represents the collective heritage of mankind,” he added.

“These should remain our core guiding principles for our future endeavors.  In the case of the Philippines , we have translated these principles into policy and into deeds.  Not only have we been active in the United Nations, but we have spread the gospel of interfaith cooperation at the regional, national and local grassroots level,” the Secretary said. END.