Today, December 10, 2020 in Nur-Sultan, on the eve of the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the participation of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the site of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue, a meaningful discussion was held by the most authoritative scientists, experts of recognized international think tanks (think tanks) on topical issues of globalization, religion, dialogue.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Yerzhan Nukezhanov, representatives of the world's leading think tanks from Great Britain, Brazil, Vatican, Pakistan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Russia. In particular, the Head of the Bureau of Islamic Affairs of the Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue, Monsignor (Vatican) - Khaled Akasheh, Director General of the Institute for the Study of Islam of the International Islamic University of Islamabad (Pakistan) - Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Executive Director of the Woolf Institute (Great Britain ) - Esther-Miriam Wagner, as well as other members of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, partners of the Center, friends of Kazakhstan.
During the conference, modern processes of globalization, issues of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in ensuring security and sustainable development of societies were discussed. The growing role of the religious and scientific-expert community in the development of fundamental, applied, research projects in the field of state-confessional relations is considered.
The experts provided a comparative analysis of international studies of recent decades, demonstrating positive dynamics among modern societies in understanding the need and willingness to strengthen interreligious dialogue, integrate cross-cultural, scientific ties between countries in promoting interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding.
International experts focused particular attention on the exceptional role and outstanding contribution of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev in the formation and development of Independent Kazakhstan, the creation of an effective model of peace and harmony between different confessions, the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in the world within the framework of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The conference participants unanimously congratulated Kazakhstanis on the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and stressed the importance of the country's international initiatives in the development of a global dialogue between world and traditional religions.
“It is natural that Kazakhstan became the venue for the six Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, whose history of dialogue between cultures, religions and civilizations goes back centuries. Today, the development of interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue is an important part of Kazakhstan's overall strategy for ensuring security and stability both regionally and globally, ”said Olifa Gulomova, head of the international department of the Center for Islamic Civilization under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Humanity is now and always in dire need of dialogue. “The challenges that a person faces in relation to another person are numerous. Therefore, it is very important that religions keep pace with modern civilization, interact with it, so that religious leaders are open to new concepts, ”- said the Secretary General of the Al-Azhar Academy of Islamic Studies, Nazir Mohammed Muhammad al-Nazir Ayad.
According to V. Nemchinov, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, despite the consequences of the pandemic that has hit the whole world, countries should assist in strengthening interreligious, interethnic relations and contribute to the promotion of spiritual values. “The pandemic has shown us that national borders can only be a barrier to the movement of people, but there are no borders for human vulnerability and for intercultural solidarity,” V. Nemchinov stressed.
In his speech, Eduardo Weaver, President of the non-profit organization "UniaoPlanetaria" - "Planetary Union" voiced the key principles of the successful development of the religious world in the context of globalization and noted that Kazakhstan is doing great things, uniting different cultures and religions.
Today, religious faith is one of the most important sources of solidarity and perhaps the greatest engine of social action in civil society. “Kazakhstan intends to become a new leader in this area, a center where different religions and cultures meet, a place where they learn to understand and respect each other. I really hope that modern processes of globalization will allow us to establish a dialogue, build bridges between cultures and religions, help us see globalization as a source of fear and rivalry, but a basis for mutual understanding and friendship, ”said Esther-Miriam Wagner, Executive Director of the Woolf Institute.
Noting the importance of developing interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue, Khalid Abalhassan, Head of the Department for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution of the Russian-Arab Center for Research and Information, said that “Tolerance is the constitution of the world. We need balance, we need globalization and education to understand and realize our faith and faith in other people.
Summarizing the speeches of foreign and Kazakh experts, Chairman of the Board of the Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue - Altay Abibullayev emphasized that in conditions of global turbulence, the emergence of new challenges and threats in the world - modern interreligious and interfaith relations are undergoing a deep reassessment and transformation. In this context, the role of the scientific and expert community, national and international research institutes and centers specializing in the comprehensive study of issues of interreligious and intercivilizational development is increasing.
“Interreligious dialogue and partnership of civilizations should not be just slogans. We need to build such a world order that would combine all the ways to coordinate different interests in decision-making at the national and global level with respect for moral sense, lifestyle, national and religious traditions of people. As the development of mankind in the era of globalization shows, the culture of dialogue and tolerance will be the main value orientations of the modern world, ”noted Altay Abibullayev.
Following the results of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, the participants developed appropriate practical recommendations for further studying the issues of interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue, the formation of stable mechanisms of interaction in solving interreligious problems, as well as cooperation within the framework of the meetings of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and its institutions.
