Kazakhstan’s Minister of Information and Social Development Askar Umarov takes part in International Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London

A separate meeting was hosted at the British Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street for a number of key participants of the conference, including the head of the Kazakhstan delegation.

On behalf of the British Government, the meeting participants were welcomed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey MP, who is also responsible for social development affairs in the UK.

At the conference Mr Umarov informed the heads of foreign delegations about the upcoming VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which is set to take place in the capital of Kazakhstan and highlighted the key pillars of the Kazakh model of interethnic and interfaith harmony.

On the sidelines of the conference, Mr Umarov met with the Minister of State for South and Central Asia at the UK Foreign Office Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon; UN High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and former Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos; the first UK participant of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Bishop of Leeds Nicholas Baines; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó.

The Minister also met with the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh; the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; and UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Fiona Bruce MP.

During the meetings, the sides discussed the prospects for further cooperation, as well as highlighted Kazakhstan’s efforts to foster peaceful coexistence and engagement among the representatives of dozens of different faiths living in the country.

During the meetings, Mr Umarov presented the official invitation to Fiona Bruce MP to take part in the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions which will take place in Nur-Sultan in September.