MEPs give cautious welcome to EU's intercultural dialogue agenda  

STRASBOURG - MEPs have clashed over the composition of speakers set to address the European parliament during the EU’s year of intercultural dialogue.

Liberal UK deputy Baroness Sarah Ludford expressed disappointment at the speakers chosen to speak to the parliament during the year long series of events, which began with an address by the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun.

“The President [of the European parliament] must not let religious figures dominate the list of invitees, since this is the year of inter-cultural, not inter-faith dialogue,” she said

“I am also disappointed that the Grand Mufti of Syria, a person from outside the EU, has been invited in the same breath as the Pope and the British Chief Rabbi.

"It would have been more appropriate to invite someone from inside Europe to speak about Islam and thereby send a signal that MEPs regard Islam as a mainstream European religion,” she added.

The prominence of religious speakers on the agenda is a particularly sensitive issue given Turkey’s potential entry into the EU as an Islamic state.

However German liberal MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis disagreed with Ludford, calling for greater involvement of non-EU countries such as Turkey in the proceedings.

“I don’t deny that religion is part of culture, but my issue is this, why are only two of the speakers non-Europeans?” he told theparliament.com

“Why don’t we invite Dr Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia? Why don’t we invite the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from Istanbul? He can play a big part in the Turkish accession to the EU,” he added.

In his speech, Dr Hassoun was however keen to emphasis the separation of culture and religion, stressing that the discussions this year should centre upon civilisation and mankind rather than religion.

“Culture is from our own creation. This parliament was not built by a Christian only, or by a Jewish person, or by a Muslim, but by a man. It is a single culture in the universe and not multiple…our dialogue has to be open and centred on a civil basis not a religious basis,” he said.

"I don't impose my religion on you, nor do you impose your religion on me…let us create a new generation that believes that man, whatever his religion…is my brother," he added.

Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering said that tolerance would be at the heart of the European year of intercultural dialogue.

“Tolerance is central to intercultural dialogue. But tolerance does not mean indifference. Tolerance means defending one's views, hearing out others and respecting their convictions." he said.

“The fact that the Grand Mufti has been accompanied here today by senior religious leaders offers clear evidence of that successful coexistence," he added.

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