VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions completed its work in Astana

The spiritual forum started its work in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the participants of the opening ceremony. In the welcoming speech of the Head of state, the main emphasis was placed on the efforts of Kazakhstan and the role of its capital in promoting the ideas of peacemaking, partnership, tolerance, and creation at the global level. - Intercivilizational conflicts look absurd against the background of scientific and technological progress. However, the image of the future of humanity is being formed right now. The state in which we will be able to pass on our common planet to future generations is the main civilizational problem. We have been living in the third Millennium for 18 years, but peace, well-being and prosperity have not become the main trend of human development.

The world community could not get out of the sinister circle of mutual distrust, hostility, and conflict,-the Head of state noted. Noting the importance of efforts to overcome the global crisis of confidence, the President of Kazakhstan focused on the key areas for joint work of the Congress participants. He called on representatives of world religions to use all the advantages of new technologies in the era of the information society to promote the ideas of peace and harmony at the global level together. To do this, the Head of state suggested creating an information portal on the basis of the Congress. The President of Kazakhstan also invited the spiritual leaders to appeal to the world community for peace and security. During the plenary session, President Nursultan Nazarbayev presented the first Astana international prize for his contribution to inter-religious dialogue. The Pontifical Council for interreligious dialogue received a high award. A number of religious leaders were awarded the Medal of Honor of the Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions. The honorary guest of the Congress, President of Serbia Alexander Vucic, addressed the forum participants with a greeting.

At the plenary session were also made by the Supreme Imam, Sheikh al-Azhar Muhammad Ahmad al-Tayeb, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, Chairman of the Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for interpretation of legislative texts, cardinal Francisco Coccopalmerio, the high representative of UN Alliance of civilizations Nassir Abd al-Aziz al-Nasser, Secretary General of world Assembly for proximity of Islamic schools of thought Ayatollah Mohsen Mohammadi Araki, Sephardic and Ashkenazi rabbis of Israel Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau, Lama Chojilzhavyn Dambazhav, Vice-President of the world Buddhist community, Li Guangfu, Chairman of the Association of Taoists of China, Thomas Greminger, Secretary General of the OSCE, William Wendley, Secretary General of the world organization of Religions for peace, heads of delegations and distinguished guests of the Congress.

On October 11, the working day of the Congress participants began with a collective prayer service near the «Wall of peace» onument at the independence Palace in Astana. Representatives of various faiths performed prayers in memory of the sad lessons of history, for peace and prosperity on earth at the monument embodying the ideas of the Manifesto of President Nursultan Nazarbayev «World. XXI century». The ideological content of this historical document became the main topic of the first sectional session of the Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions. Subsequent breakout sessions were devoted to such topics as «Religion in changing geopolitics: new opportunities for the consolidation of humanity», «Religion and globalization: challenges and answers», «Religious leaders and political figures in overcoming extremism and terrorism». During the discussions, the summit participants focused their efforts on finding joint solutions for the sake of bringing peoples and civilizations closer together and preserving global stability and security. At the closing of the Congress, the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke. He thanked the heads of delegations and guests, representatives of international organizations for their active participation in the forum and significant contribution to its work. According to K. Tokayev, the ideas and proposals expressed during the forum will be thoroughly studied and analyzed. The Congress showed the presence of a common vision and mutual understanding of spiritual leaders regarding the new face of the world. «All over the world, followers of various faiths are looking forward to the meeting in the capital of Kazakhstan. Millions of people, tired of conflicts and fear, choose peace, harmony and stability», - said the speaker of the Senate. K. Tokayev expressed hope that the participants of the interfaith summit will convey the results of the VI Congress to their governments and peoples. In the Declaration adopted at the end of the Congress, the participants expressed their readiness to fully promote the involvement of leaders of world and traditional religions in more active efforts to achieve long-term stability and prevent violent incidents caused by hatred and intolerance. The forum participants expressed solidarity with all religious groups and ethnic communities that have been subjected to abuse and violence by extremists and terrorists, and supported efforts aimed at protecting refugees, their rights and dignity. The final document calls on the world's media to abandon the practice of identifying terrorism with religion. The Declaration calls on religious leaders to promote the values of peace, understanding and respect in the media, social networks and public gatherings, as well as to make every effort to prevent provocations and violence in places of worship and shrines of all religions. Delegates of the Congress supported the creation of the «N. Nazarbayev Center for the development of interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue» in recognition of the outstanding contribution of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the process of global interaction in the name of peace and harmony. The Declaration sets the date for the next forum. It was decided to hold the VII Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions in 2021 in Astana. As part of the events dedicated to the forum, the Museum of peace and harmony was opened, as well as a special stamp issued for the 15th anniversary of the Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions was extinguished.