PGMA: RP hosting of SNAMMM will harness potential of Interfaith Dialogue for lasting peace and development

MANILA, Jan. 31 — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the Philippines’ hosting of the Special Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development on March 16 to 18, 2010 will harness the great potential of interfaith dialogue in bringing lasting peace and sustainable development.

The President espoused this during the opening ceremonies of the 15th NAM Summit at the Maritim Congress Center in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt in July last year where she invited member-countries of the NAM to actively participate in the conference that will mark the first time that the Non-Aligned Movement will harness the great potentials of interfaith dialogue and cooperation to advance circular concerns for durable, lasting peace and sustainable development.

The meeting, which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), will give representatives of the 118 NAM member-countries the opportunity to focus on the role of interfaith dialogue and cooperation play in averting and ending conflicts that bring death and destruction around the world.

The President has pointed out that issues such as the financial crisis, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and other pressing global concerns can be effectively addressed through international solidarity and dialogue amongst peoples, civilizations and religions.

The Philippines is the leading proponent on interfaith dialogue and promotes the same to bring peace and development in Mindanao.

In 2004, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Philippines resolution on interfaith dialogue as another option in realizing a durable peace. And in 2006, during the 14th NAM which the President attended, the final document included Philippines’ hosting of the special meeting on interfaith dialogue.

It is in NAM that the Philippines is able to amplify its support for efforts to meet threats to international peace and security through dialogue, preventive measures and peacemaking.

A Department of Foreign Affairs statement said that the Philippines “considers that intercultural and interfaith dialogue policy framework paves the way for the coming together of people of different cultures and faiths to build, through dialogue and action, a shared environment of peace and security based on mutual understanding, trust and respect.”

The special NAM meeting was originally scheduled for December 1-3, 2009, but was postponed to March so that the Philippine government could concentrate on relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” that struck the country in September last year.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Leslie Gatan, in an interview Sunday afternoon over government-run radio station Radyo ng Bayan, said the Philippine hosting of the SNAMMM has three-fold objectives: to support NAM’s principles in promoting a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, religions and cultures; to promote interfaith dialogue as an important instrument in achieving global peace and development; and to highlight the Philippines’ leading role in interfaith dialogue in the international community.

Intercultural and interfaith dialogue, pursued in a variety of ways, helps dismantle the culture of violence on which terrorism breeds by bringing about significant positive outcomes.

These include improved relations and openness among religious leaders engaged in interreligious dialogue, as well as among ordinary people of varied cultures and faiths who have participated in interfaith workshop, seminars and conferences; better understanding of conflicts and enhanced skills in conflict resolution among key stakeholders especially in Mindanao, where the Muslim secessionist movement is most active;

Relative peace in conflict-affected communities as a result of the coordinated efforts of local peace mechanisms and civil society initiatives which actively involve local religious leaders and workers as ceasefire monitors and peace advocates; healing and reconciliation facilitated among conflict-affected individuals; enhanced cultural and conflict sensitivity in plan and program formulation and implementation; and,

Peace constituency expanded and strengthened with the support and participation of more religious moderates and improved institutional linkages between and among local and international peace and interfaith organizations, as well as between government and interfaith NGOs. (PNA)

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