On November 12, in the city of Nur-Sultan, an annual international online conference on the topic "Tolerance is the basis of world civilization" was held, timed to coincide with the International Day of Tolerance.
Organizer of the conference: Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue.
The conference was attended by the Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Azilkhanov Marat, Chairman of the Board of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue - Abibullayev Altay,
Director of the UNESCO Office in Almaty - Krista Pikkat , Head of the UN Department of Global Communications - Vlastimil Samek, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders of the United Arab Emirates - Sultan Faysal El-Remeyti, Chairman of the International Center for Interreligious Dialogue of the Organization for Cultural and Islamic Relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Muhammad Mahdi Tashiri, Deputy Chairman of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Turkey - Selim Argun, Member of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, representative of "Somaiya Vidyavihar", India - Rudraksha Sakrikar, as well as other international experts from the USA, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Uzbekistan, representatives of scientific expert community, diplomatic corps, the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, civil society institutions.
During the conference, an exchange of views took place on issues of tolerance, interethnic peace and interfaith harmony in the country and in the world.
Speaking with a welcoming speech to the participants of the conference, Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Commissioner for promoting the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, National Coordinator of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan - Marat Azilkhanov noted that Kazakhstan is an active supporter of interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue, in every possible way contributes to the promotion of the ideas of tolerance in the world. This is an example of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held since 2003 on a regular basis in the capital of Kazakhstan.
In her speech, Mrs. Krista Pikkat, Director of the UNESCO Office in Almaty noted that “Tolerance is a state of mind, awareness, it is cultural diversity, a form of wealth, not a factor of division”.
Support for the principles of tolerance, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and tolerant attitude towards others are of particular importance today. “Over the course of 30 years of independence, Kazakhstan has shown an example of how one can live in peace and harmony, without violating each other's rights, respecting and trusting each other. I am convinced that thanks to tolerance, mutual support, common goals, steadfastness of spirit, we will successfully cope with all difficulties and achieve new successes on the path of creation and progress, preserving peace on earth, ”said in his speech the Chairman of the Board of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational dialogue - Altay Abibullayev.
According to Dr. Selim Argun, Deputy Chairman of the Department of Religious Affairs of Turkey, we must all focus on ensuring that a culture of tolerance prevails in our societies, we must turn to the positive experiences we have accumulated in the past and present.
The modern realities of the growing manifestation of intolerance, the development of extremism, the spread of radicalism and violence throughout the world require strengthening the interaction of mankind on issues of tolerance, deepening mutual understanding between cultures and peoples.
In this regard, the conference participants proposed new progressive ideas aimed at promoting the principles of tolerance, peace, spiritual harmony, solidarity in the international community.
Recall that on November 16, 1995, the UNESCO Member States adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, in 1996 the UN General Assembly proposed annually celebrating November 16 as the International Day of Tolerance.
