Presentation of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at the UN Headquarters

The Kazakhstani delegation led by Vice Minister for Religious Affairs and Civil Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan Berik Aryn visited the UN headquarters (New York), where they took part in the meeting of the UN Security Council according to the Arria formula on the topic “Religious Leaders for a Safe World” dedicated to the upcoming VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held with the same topic in October this year in Astana.

The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in cooperation with the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

The forum, chaired by the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Nasir Abdel Aziz An-Nasser and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN Kairat Umarov, was attended by representatives of the UN Security Council member states, non-governmental organizations, Secretary General of the World Conference on Religions for Peace William Wendley , President of the Committee of Religious NGOs under the UN Swami Parameshananda, Founder and President of the Call of Conscience Foundation, spiritual leader of East Park Synagogue Rabbi Arthur Schneier, and others.

The meeting was opened with a welcoming speech by the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Nasir Abdel Aziza An-Nasser, who addressed the participants of the event on behalf of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, Vice-Minister for Religious Affairs and Civil Society of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Commissioner for the Promotion of the Goals and Tasks of the Congress, Berik Aryn, made a presentation.

Aryn acquainted the participants with the experience of Kazakhstan in ensuring interethnic and interfaith harmony, spoke in detail about the global initiative of President N. Nazarbayev to convene the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the goals and objectives of which are consistent with the mission and priorities of the UN and other international organizations.

In particular, Vice Minister drew attention to the fact that over the 15 years of its history, the Congress has always been held at the peak of complex global processes. It was noted that in the current conditions of a deficit of trust in international relations, the emergence of new challenges and threats, local wars and the intensification of radical movements in several regions of the world, there is an urgent need to further combine efforts, both of religious leaders and of world politicians, in ensuring security and stability on our planet.

In this regard, hope was expressed for broad support for the initiative of the Head of our state on the part of all UN member countries and international organizations by taking an active part in the work of this forum, which will allow to make a feasible contribution to the promotion of interfaith dialogue at the global level.

In general, the participants of the event highly noted the active foreign policy of Kazakhstan, discussed a wide range of topical issues on the global agenda, including valuable advice and suggestions on the meaningful content of the upcoming VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Participants also shared their countries' experiences in promoting inter-religious dialogue and their own visions on solving the problems of religious extremism and terrorism and building a peaceful and stable society.

The “Arria formula meetings” are in the form of informal confidential meetings that allow members of the UN Security Council to conduct a private, frank exchange of views using a flexible procedural framework. This format of meetings is named after the Venezuelan ambassador Diego Arria, who started applying this practice in 1992 as a representative of Venezuela in the UN Security Council (in 1992-1993).

During his stay in New York, Vice Minister B. Aryn also held bilateral meetings with Secretary General of the World Conference on Religions for Peace William Wendley and High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Nasir Abdel Aziz An-Nasser.

At the meetings, B. Aryn handed over invitations on behalf of the Head of the Congress Secretariat, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev to the VI Congress, acquainted the interlocutors with the agenda of the upcoming forum, and also discussed the development of cooperation of Kazakhstan with the NGOs "Religions for Peace" and the "Alliance of Civilizations".

Wendley and N. An-Nasser gratefully accepted the invitation, assured of personal participation in the work of the Congress.