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The 14th I.A.O General Assembly was held in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan 20 - 23 June 2007.
Parliamentary delegations from the following parliaments - members of the I.A.O participated in the General Assembly: Greece, Russian Federation, Cyprus, Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine, as well as members of Parliaments from Sudan and Uganda. Members of the Parliament of Montenegro participated in the Assembly with the status of observers.
Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions welcomed and addressed the Assembly and read a greeting message of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev.
In addition, His Eminence Antonii Archbishop of Urals and Guriev from the Russian Orthodox Church, Mr. Absattar Derbisali, President of the Muslim spiritual administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Eminence Mr. Tomash Peta Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Astana, Mr. K.S. Soultanov, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. E.L. Togzhanov, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Mr. M.S. Tashibaev, Head of the Directorate for International organisations and cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan were invited and participated in the works of the Assembly. Greeting messages by His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as well as by the Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, Alexios II, and His Eminence the Metropolitan Methodios of Astana and Almaty were addressed during the inaugural ceremony.
The following reports were presented on the central subject:
The following reports were presented on the central subject:
- «Religionsinthedialogueforhumanknowledgeanddignity»
by the Professor Emeritus of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Mr. Grιgorios Ziakas.
- «The Inter-religious dialogue in modern Russia»
by the Professor of History, Head of the dept. for the relations of state – religions in the Russian Academy of State Services Mrs. Olga Vasilieva.
- For the venue of the 15th I.A.O General Assembly in 2008 proposals were made by the parliamentary delegations of Cyprus and Jordan.
- The General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:
The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.):
Having convened at its 14th annual session in Astana,
Regretting the fact that the occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus by turkish troops continues since 1974,
Following with concern developments in the Cyprus problem, but also its continuing consequences, because of the lack of will and cooperation on the Turkish side,
Particularly concerned for the fate of the religious and cultural heritage in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, in the context of a willful neglect and/or destruction by the occupation regime,
Having regard to its previous Resolutions on Cyprus, ever since the I.A.O's establishment, pertinent Resolutions of the UNO, the European Parliament and other international organizations, as well as relevant court judgments, inter alia in the USA and Germany,
Reminding in particular relevant provisions of the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage,
Votes as follows:
- Reiterates its concern for the continuing de facto division of the island and requests the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops and all settlers.
- Expresses its particular concern for the fact that thousands of items of the
religious and cultural heritage in the occupied territory of the Republic of
Cyprus have been destroyed, have disappeared or have been illegally
traded on the international market, due to their willful neglect and/or
destruction by the occupation regime, in the framework of its policy of
altering the character of the occupied areas.
- Regrets to affirm that every attempt to save this religious and cultural
heritage and/or retrieve the treasures, that are part thereof, is exploited
by the illegal occupation regime, aiming at upgrading itself or gaining
direct of indirect recognition.
- Underlines that, over and above the fact that the Christian orthodox,
religious and cultural treasures and monuments in the occupied part of
Cyprus are owned by and belong to the Church of Cyprus, other Christian Churches and the Government of the Republic, this cultural and religious heritage also constitutes part of the European and world heritage and, as such, must be urgently protected and restored.
- Calls upon all countries and international organizations to contribute in
every possible way to the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to save,
restore and retrieve its religious and cultural treasures that originate or
are situated in its occupied part.
- Calls in particular upon Turkey to show the respect due to this invaluable
part of world civilization and to cooperate for its restoration without any
political expedience.
- Supports the soonest possible achievement of an agreed, just and
functional solution to the Cyprus problem, in the form of a bizonal,
bicommunal federation, based on pertinent UN Resolutions and the EU
acquis communautaire and which will take into account the legitimate
interests and concerns of all Cypriots.
«The Inter-religious dialogue as a factor
of peaceful and fair relationships among peoples»
«God is love...» (1 John. 4, 16).
We, representatives, members of our parliaments, following the proposal of the National Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, met in the city of Astana, Capital city of the Republic of Kazakhstan, completing our 14th General Assembly with central subject: "The Inter-religious dialogue as a factor of peaceful and fair relationships among peoples", address our parliaments, the political leaders of our countries, all international organisations, the religious leaders of the world, every person of good will, communicating a cordial greeting of love, understanding and humbleness.
Today, the global community is under the threat of various forms of violence even more to say, under the façade of the so called religious.
While in the core of all religions, particularly the monotheistic ones, lies a message of life, peace, justice, harmony and honest social relations, however, in our days, humanity but religions as well, are confronted with the presence and the devastating force of the so called religious violence.
Moreover, often civil conflicts and turmoil utilizes religious traditions and expressions, in order to legitimize the allegations of the conflicting parties.
Although in the majority of the cases, religion does not constitute the main cause of violent confrontations, yet, religious symbolisms and views have been used, in order to legitimize the use of violence as the means of the political struggle for power.
On the other hand, religious communities themselves, while on the one hand not admitting the underlying notion of religious conflict, and on the other hand being self-committed to the prospect of peace and religious tolerance, nevertheless they are not prepared to effectively deal with the dynamics of the so called religious violence released.
This is the existing situation in the beginning of the new century of technologies, where religious pluralism is a reality and all religions have to admit to it.
At the same time, citizens are called to realise the crystal clear differentiation of the state and its mechanisms from religion, the public from the private sector and to finally realise that the popular state simply cannot rely on the religious legitimization of its power.
In our days, the modern world is called to deal with these phenomena within the spirit of reconciliation and humbleness.
Each one of us is called to respond to the different and strange, in an “accepting” and tolerant manner.
Political and economic factors worldwide should look for the causes of these phenomena in a responsible way, and graciously manage the dangerous dynamics of violence, prioritizing inter-religious dialogue.
Churches, religious communities and their leaders are called to undertake new public initiatives aimed at moderation, moral orientation of societies, harmonious co-existence and reconciliation.
New locations and spiritual institutions should be established where the elements of religions, contributing to reconciliation and mutual understanding, will be substantiated and promoted, elements, which lie at the foundations of every religion and, which, throughout centuries, have been shadowed or even annihilated by political and other expediencies.
Each form of power should cease seeking its moral legitimization in religions, and religious leaders should promote other means for bringing their flock together, different from those of political power
Since its foundation, the I.A.O, has been contributing to the inter-religious dialogue and understanding of modern religious phenomena, to the discouragement of conflicts and the enhancement of those elements of Christianity and Orthodoxy, which contribute to human mutual understanding.
The states and their parliaments with orthodox religious orientation, which have a tradition to the democratic organisation of modern societies, as well as the peaceful coexistence of religious expressions, actively contribute to the I.A.O initiatives and they support every effort, while every time the orthodox churches positively respond to these initiatives.
Through numerous meetings, visits, statements, the I.A.O is being established as an arena for interparliamentary dialogue, and global consensus on issues of political and cultural orientation, falling within the spectrum of the concept of religion, always on the basis of the orthodox faith, laying the foundations for a peaceful future for our planet.
These efforts will be continued in the future, looking for solutions to the modern problems of society, in collaboration with all parties and institutions striving for a peaceful future of mankind.
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