Convinced in the need of providing contribution towards encouraging the cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, the Republic of Macedonia for the third time organizes the World Conference on Dialogue Among Religions and Civilizations on the topic 'Freedom and Dignity-Fundamental Values in Inter-Human, Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Relations', which will be held on May 10-12 in Skopje.
Third World Conference is a continuation of the first and second ones, successfully realized in 2007 and 2010 in Ohrid. As the previous two, the Conference shall be organized by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities and Groups and will be implemented within the UN and UNESCO Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, financially supported by the Macedonian Government and UNESCO.
The Conference programme includes discussion on the topics: Pluralistic Societies and Religious Tolerance; Living Together by Respecting the Diversity and Contribution of Media to the Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Dialogue.
The event will also pay tribute to three significant jubilees: 313 AD – 1700 years since Christianity gained its freedom, 70th anniversary of the Holocaust of the Jews and 10th anniversary of the Regional Summit of Heads of State in SEE Dialogue among Civilisations and the Ohrid Peace Message.
Furthermore, a Youth Forum is to be held in the framework of this conference, under the title 'The Role of Religions in Building a Tolerant Youth.' It will be attended by representatives of the three generations of the Young Leaders School that is organised under the auspices of Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov. Representatives of world youth organisations, who, in their daily activities, among other things, focus on inter-religious dialogue i.e. on issues relating to religion, culture and spiritual values, are invited to attend as special guests.
The Macedonian Government has made its contribution by supporting the organisation of the World Conferences on Dialogue among Religions and Civilisations that have taken place every three years as of 2007.
The organisation of such a significant event in Macedonia is a continuation of the humane vision of late President Boris Trajkovski, who, on own initiative - supported by UNESCO, realised the very first Regional Summit of Heads of States in SEE Dialogue among Civilisations in 2003 in Ohrid.
"The Ohrid Peace and Cooperation Message made it possible for such regional forums of Heads of State in the region to take place every year so far, under the auspices of UNESCO. The Republic of Macedonia takes great pleasure in hosting both the Regional Summit of Heads of States and the Third World Conference in 2013," the Ministry of Culture says in a press release.
The First World Conference on Dialogue among Religions and Civilisations, entitled Contribution of Faith and Culture to Peace, Mutual Respect and Co-Existence, was successfully realised in Ohrid on in October of 2007. The second one, entitled Religion and Culture – Strengthening Links among Nations, took place three years later in May also in Ohrid.
Both conferences were honored by the presence of great number of prominent religious leaders, intellectuals and politicians who deal with the inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. The events welcomed a total of some 200 foreign guests from about 50 countries and 100 domestic participants, being covered by around 100 accredited journalists and reporters from the country and abroad. The conferences adopted a Joint Declarations and established an International Committee for Organisation of the next World Conference. lk
