ASTANA: The Sixth Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be held in the Kazakh capital of Astana from 10 to 11 October under the theme “Global Leaders for a Secure World”. The summit will be attended by prominent politicians and religious activists and will meet Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, as well as many heads of state and heads of government participating in the summit.
“World Peace in the 21st Century as a Concept of Global Security”, “New Opportunities for the Enhancement of Humanity”, “Religions and Globalization: Challenges and Confrontations” and “The Role of Religious and Political Leaders in Overcoming Extremism and Terrorism”.
Every three years, leaders of world and traditional religions gather in Astana’s Palace of Peace and Harmony. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister, explained in a briefing with journalists that the focus was on various confessional and religious holidays when the date of the congress was being selected so all participants could fully dedicate their time to the work of the congress.
“The first priority is ensuring the survival of humanity through a world free of nuclear weapons. Given the enormous contribution of Kazakhstan to global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation processes and as a country that had suffered dire consequences of nuclear testing, we believe Kazakhstan has a moral right to demand a world free of nuclear weapons. In this regard, we seek to use the UN Security Council as a platform to advance our vision of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,” Ashikbayev said.
The deputy minister also expressed deep concern about current challenges to global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Kazakhstan condemns all actions of North Korea whose nuclear ballistic missile programme “presents a considerable challenge to global peace and security,” he said.
“We are equally concerned with anyother attempt to stop nuclear disarmament. Kazakhstan calls for all UN member nations, especially permanent members of the Security Council, to rid the world of nuclear weapons by 2045, which will mark the United Nations’ 100th anniversary from its foundation,” he noted.
The second priority is preventing and ending military confrontation at regional and global levels. Peace and renunciation of war as a means of settling interstate problems is essential to the survival of humanity, according to Ashikbayev, who added that the third priority is to generate a model for a regional zone of peace and security cooperation and development in Central Asia.
He also said the combined efforts of all states, international and regional organisations and other key stakeholders to combat international terrorism and violent extremism is the fourth and key priority of Kazakhstan’s membership on the UN Security Council.
Peace and security in Africa is the fifth priority, according to the deputy minister. Global action to prevent wars and conflicts, protect human rights, deliver sustainable development goals and combat climate change is the sixth priority while improving the Security Council and the entire UN system to the needs of the 21st century is Kazakhstan’s seventh priority on the Security Council.
Conference participants will also discuss the most urgent humanitarian problems in the context of globalization, including freedom of religion, respect for representatives of other religions and the role of religious leaders in strengthening international security, taking into account the new threats and challenges currently facing the world.
Religious leaders seek to promote the idea of interfaith dialogue through religious and cultural debates and discussions while promoting mutual understanding between different faiths and respect for eachother by all faith-holders and communities as well.
The conference aims to develop and promote mutual respect between different ideological ideologies around the world, to reject hatred, violence and extremism and to spread the principles of tolerance and cooperation between all religious and cultural institutions and bodies.
The role of this summit is reinforced by UNESCO’s strong support for it, by announcing this clear international organization of international rapprochement between cultures, 2013-2012, initiated by Kazakhstan.
The previous five summits and conferences have contributed to attracting and attracting increasing concepts of interfaith dialogue by many institutions around the world, and previous conferences have convincingly demonstrated the urgency and need to translate the idea of cooperation and religious unity into the peaceful and dignified life of the entire planet.
Author is editor with Media Hub Int’l Dubai
