The Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions under the theme of ‘Religious Leaders for the Safe World’ kicked off Wednesday in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.
The two-day congress includes the plenary session on ‘Religious Leaders for the Safe World’, the opening of the Museum of Peace and Accord, breakout session, as well as the convening of the Council of Religious Leaders.
In his welcome speech, Senate Chairman Kassym Jomart Tokayev noted the urgency of such a congress. “Kazakhstan is among few, or the only place in the world that gathers representatives of all religions at one table to discuss the most pressing issues of these times,” he said.
“Now it is important to expand our Council’s activities during a new branch of history from the position of understanding a new political era in its all geopolitical, legal, international, and ideological forms,” he added.
Tokayev went to say that “the Syrian conflict, mass deaths of believers, destruction of cultural buildings, religious monuments and facilities of world heritage around the world are next challenges to global stability and safety.”
He said that the idea to convene the international forum belongs to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, pointing out that 15 years ago, in 2003, Astana held the first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Since then the forum is held in every three years in the capital city of Kazakhstan.
Source: International Islamic News Agency