EU Leaders meet with religious leaders | May 14, 2008
Imam Abduljalil Sajid,
(first on the left)
winner of the Eighth the Muslim News Awards for Excellence last month was on hand, Monday the 5th May 2008, as all three presidents of the EU -- i.e., the presidents of the European Commission, Parliament and the European Council -- participated in the conference with the religious leaders.
We of the IRFWP are most fortunate to have this first hand account from Imam Sajid, a lifelong devotee of the cause of religion and peace.
The meeting of Monday the 5th May 2008 with religious leaders to find answers to contemporary problems using religious "capital" comes at an interesting time for Turkey, when the nation is yet again embedded in a fierce debate about the public role of religion.
All three presidents of the EU -- i.e., the presidents of the European Commission, Parliament and the European Council -- participated in the conference with the religious leaders.
The meeting of Faith Leaders bringing together around 21 high-level representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in Europe. In this very high profile meeting, in which President Barroso, European Parliament President Hans Gert Poettering, the term president and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Ján Figel as well as European Parliament Vice President Mario Mauro took part, religious leaders exchanged views on climate change and reconciliation. In the meeting, Muslims were represented by Dr. Mohamed Bechari, the president of the National Federation of French Muslims, Imam Abduljalil Sajid, the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony, Ceric and Ayatollah Abdolhossein Moezi, the director of the Islamic Center in England.
This year, discussions centered on the theme "Climate change: an ethical challenge for all cultures." Barroso stated: "Climate change obliges all of us to take urgent action. Each part of civil society must contribute to ensuring a sustainable future of our planet. Thanks to their outreach and role in our societies, religions and communities of belief are well placed to make a valuable contribution in mobilizing them for a sustainable future. Let's unite in our common endeavor and prove that the preachers of a clash of civilizations are wrong."
Participants in the meeting shared their views on the two main themes and agreed on the essential role of religions and communities of belief in tackling our common challenges and mobilizing our societies for a sustainable future.
The following was an official statement distributed at Press Conference
Presidents of Commission, Council and Parliament discuss climate change and reconciliation with European faith leaders.
On the initiative of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, an informal dialogue took place on Monday 5 May 2008 in the headquarters of the European Commission, bringing together around twenty high-level representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam in Europe. The meeting was co-chaired by European Commission President Barroso, Slovenian Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering. This year's meeting focused on two major challenges facing the European Union: Climate Change and Reconciliation.
This was the fourth annual meeting with religious leaders and the second involving the Presidents of the three EU institutions. The initiative was launched by President Barroso in 2005.
This year, discussions centred around "Climate change: an ethical challenge for all cultures". President Barroso declared: "Climate change obliges all of us to take urgent action. Each part of civil society must contribute to ensuring a sustainable future of our planet. Thanks to their outreach and role in our societies, religions and communities of belief are well placed to make a valuable contribution in mobilising them for a sustainable future. Let's unite in our common endeavour and prove that the preachers of a clash of civilisations are wrong."
The President of the European Council, Janez Janša, insisted: "The environment is not only natural but also a sacred place. Community and loyalty between man, nature and the Creator is a basic principle of Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike. Climate change requires us to rethink how we channel imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship into creating a world, free of dependence on fossil fuels, and yet prosperous and connected as never before. This would not mean that we should get away with what we have achieved. We should only rethink our achievements and look at them from a different point of view."
As 2008 is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the high-level meeting is a welcome opportunity to focus also on the topic of "Reconciliation through intercultural and inter-faith dialogue".
EP President Pöttering said "Intercultural dialogue is a key instrument to building bridges between people and to safeguarding peace based on mutual respect. Intercultural dialogue therefore is also an important contribution to the European Union's relations with its neighbouring countries, in particular in the Mediterranean region".
Participants of the meeting shared their views on the two main themes and agreed on the essential role of religions and communities of belief in tackling our common challenges and mobilising our societies for a sustainable future. Participants demonstrated their willingness and commitment to continue this important dialogue, among themselves and with the European institutions.
Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Ján Figel' as well as European Parliament Vice President Mario Mauro also took part in the religious leaders' meeting.
I hope above information will be of some use to you. Please do nothesitate to contact me if you feel i can be of any further help.
With Best Regards,
Imam Sajid
Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid
8 Caburn Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 6EF, England
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 722438 Mobile: +44 (0) 7971 861972
Email: [email protected]
P.S. For further information look at : http://europa.eu/rapid/ of the European Commission in all official languages of the EU and as a paper version in front of the press room where the press conference will take place.
The text of the IP has been agreed between Parliament, Council Presidency and the Commission.
After the meeting we will publish film and photo material of the meeting at: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/. The use of the material is free of charge.
EU Contacts:
Johannes Laitenberger +32 2 296 57 45 [email protected]
Jens Mester +32 2 29 639 73 [email protected]
Jorge César das Neves
Adviser
European Commission – BEPA
Dialogue with Religions, Churches and Communities of conviction
BERL 8/125
Rue de la Loi, 200
1049 Bruxelles
tel: +32 (0) 2 29-64.248
mobile: +32 (0) 473 214 307
fax: +32 (0) 2 29-92.223
e-mail: [email protected]
Posted by admin at May 14, 2008 05:07 PM
