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European Conference “The religious dimension of intercultural dialogue”

In the framework of the Council of Europe policy to promote intercultural dialogue, the government of San Marino (holding the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers at the time) and the Council of Europe organised a European conference on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, held on 23 and 24 April 2007 in San Marino. Over 130 representatives of the main bodies of the Council of Europe, the governments of Council of Europe member states, religions traditionally present in Europe and civil society, assisted by experts, discussed the implications of cultural and religious diversity in Europe for the strengthening of European co-operation based on shared values.

The conference programme concentrated on two main themes: the perspectives of a dialogue between the Council of Europe and the religious communities traditionally present on our continent, and the importance of the religious dimension in the promotion of intercultural dialogue. The debate on the second subject was a contribution to the “White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue”.

The Conference participants adopted a final declaration.

Programme 

Monday, 23 April 2007

09:30 Opening of the conference in the presence of Their Excellencies the Captains Regent of the Republic of San Marino

      · Mr. Fiorenzo Stolfi, President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (speech)
      · Mr. Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (speech)
      · Mrs. Francesca Michelotti, Minister for Education, Culture, University and Social Affairs of the Republic of San Marino (speech in French)
      · Mr. Lluís Maria de Puig, Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (speech)
      · Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
      · Mr. Yavuz Mildon, Representative of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (speech in French)
      · Mr Staffan de Mistura, Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations
      · Ambassador José Angel Lopez Jorrin, Ambassador at Large for the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE

11:00 Break

11:30 ”The religious dimension of intercultural dialogue: what dialogue between the Council of Europe, the religious communities and civil society?”

      Presentation of examples of good practice in the area of the dialogue between religious communities and public authorities at all levels

      Chaired by Mr. Ambassador Guido Bellatti Ceccoli, Permanent Representative of the Republic of San Marino to the Council of Europe, Chairman of the Ministers’ Deputies

      Rapporteur: Mr. Jean-Paul Willaime, Director of the European Institute of Religion Studies, Paris (report)

13:00 Lunch

14:30 Dialogue between the Council of Europe, the religious communities and civil society: reflections of the Committee of Ministers and proposals

      Chaired by Mr.Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe

      Rapporteur: Mr. Ambassador Christian Ter Stepanian, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, Chairman of Ad hoc reflection group responsible for considering the objectives of a possible Council of Europe action concerning the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue (GT-REF.DIR) (report in French)

      General debate

16:00 Break

16:30 General debate (continued)

18:00 Adjournment

Tuesday, 24 April 2007

09:00 “The religious dimension in the policy of the Council of Europe for the promotion of intercultural dialogue”

      Presentation of the “White Paper on intercultural dialogue” of the Council of Europe

      Chaired by Mrs. Ambassador Eleonora Petrova-Mitevska, Permanent Representative of the “former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” to the Council of Europe, Chairman of the Rapporteur Group on Education, Culture, Sport, Youth and Environment (GR-C)

      Rapporteur : Mrs. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Co-ordinator for Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe, Director General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe (report)

      Contributions of religious communities to the “White Paper”

      General debate

11:00 Break

11:30 Presentation and adoption of the final document

      Chaired by Mr. Marc Scheuer, Director of Political Advice and Co-operation, Directorate General of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe

12:30 Closing session of the conference

      Closing speech by Mr. Ambassador Guido Bellatti Ceccoli, Permanent Representative of the Republic of San Marino to the Council of Europe, Chairman of the Ministers’ Deputies

13:00 End of conference

Other conference documents