On November 2, 2021 the round table «Interfaith dialogue for peace and mutual understanding» was held in Tehran in an online format.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Iran with the support of the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue, with the active participation of the Organization for Cultural and Islamic Relations of Iran and the Iranian Embassy in Kazakhstan.
At the round table, reports were made by Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan S. Egizbayev, Head of the Institute for Analysis of the Religious Situation and Religious Expertise of the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue E. Baibol, Chairman of the Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue of the Organization for Cultural and Islamic Relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran G. Suleimani, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iran A. Orazbay, Ambassador of Iran to Kazakhstan M. Saber, Deputy Mufti of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kazakhstan E. Ongarov, Deputy Head of the International Organization of Religious Studies in Kum city H. Abdipur, Head of the Center for the Study of Social Processes Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development «Rukhani Zhagyru» K. Maigeldinov, Head of the Department for Islamic, Orthodox Christian and Protestant Religions of the Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue of the Organization for Cultural and Islamic Relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, participant of the XIX Secretariat Congress Z. Rashidbeigi and other experts from the two countries. The event was also attended by representatives of leading information agencies, news portals and newspapers of Iran: IRNA, Tehran Times, Iran News, Iran daily and other media.
Speaking with the welcoming speech, Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan S. Egizbayev noted that in the context of modern global challenges and threats against the background of a pandemic that actually changes the world, the religious factor plays an important role in bringing different peoples, cultures and civilizations closer together. In this regard, the world community is in demand for the unique Kazakhstani experience of intercivilizational and interreligious harmony, which found its clear and concrete embodiment in the convocation of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, initiated by the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev.
In his speech, the Head of the Institute for Analysis of the Religious Situation and Religious Expertise of the N. Nazarbayev Center E. Baibol, talking about the achievements of Kazakhstan over 30 years of Independence, emphasized the effective implementation of the initiatives of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev in the international arena, including the importance of holding the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in establishing interfaith dialogue in the world, political and socio-economic reforms of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev in strengthening the stability, well-being and prosperity of Kazakhstani society.
In turn, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Iran A. Orazbay dwelled on the fact that under the leadership of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev, a unique Kazakhstan model of achieving interreligious and interethnic dialogue was formed, such important international events as the Congress were held in the international arena. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan stressed that the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev, without interrupting political continuity, attaches great importance to the preservation of interreligious and interethnic harmony and mutual understanding, including the continuation of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in a new context.
Noting the importance of the development of interfaith dialogue, Ambassador of Iran to Kazakhstan M. Saber said that he was very glad to be with a diplomatic mission in a peace-loving country, which is an adherent of the principles of dialogue and tolerance. He said that the initiatives of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev to convene the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, to create the Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan are a vivid evidence of Kazakhstan's desire to promote peace, dialogue and cohesion between different religions.
In general, the participants of the round table, during the discussion of topical issues of interaction of religions, cultures and civilizations, came to a common opinion that it is necessary to further promote interreligious dialogue in the name of peace and mutual understanding, strengthen the efforts of Kazakhstan and Iran in this direction, emphasized the relevance of initiatives and ideas, put forward at a unique platform for interreligious dialogue - the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, as well as the progress of the successful implementation of the tasks set by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev in his Address to the people of Kazakhstan.
