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Written by Samira Ali Gutoc
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Thursday, 31 July 2003 |
Manila - Just in case upheavals in the Middle East continue on, Iran has assured the Philippines of a continuing supply of oil. That's how important Iran is to an oil-importing country like us. The Philippines as a response of goodwill will launch a “Dialogue Among Civilizations” conference this August 4 to 6 at the New World Hotel in Makati City.
Dubbed as the first of its kind, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sponsored-forum will bring together diplomats (from various countries), academic experts and political leaders from Iran and the Philippines to tackle issues of peace, interfaith and terrorism. The forum includes an exhibit on the cultures of both Iran and the Philippines (pictures courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines).
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami is a proponent of the idea presented before the United Nations in 1998 immediately after assuming the presidency in 1997. He addressed the United Nations calling for a peaceful dialogue among nations, then adopted by the UN in succeeding documents promoting the culture of peace.
"The Philippines has political and economic security issues (with Iran) in mind," said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Delia Albert, relating the holding of the conference to Philippine's support of Iran. Iran is the first Muslim country to support the Philippine bid to be a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference," said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Candidato Gutoc.
"We want this idea (of dialogue) to cascade into educational institutions," Albert further said, proposing the holding of related conferences in Mindanao and the Cordillera region, both multi-ethnic and which host peace and security issues.
One of the conference panelists Prof. Miriam Ferrer (Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines) asked how the Philippine government could reconcile the state's support for the war on terrorism, which placed Iran as part of the Axis of Evil, and the idea of dialogue. Ms. Albert responded dialogue was part of the anti-terrorism drive.
Another panelist, Dean Carmen Abubakar of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies asked to what extent (in discussions) could the conference be "open". Albert said, "internal dialogue" must first be started.
Among the speakers are Dr. Abdulrahman Gavahi, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Iran on the topic “Dialogue Between Islam and Christianity, its Impact on Peaceful Coexistence”; Dr. Macapado Muslim, Chancellor of the Mindanao State University-General Santos on the topic “Achieving Peace and Development in a Multi-Cultural Setting like the Philippines”; Dr. Jesus Peralta of the National Commission on Culture and Arts on the topic “Acceptance of Cultural Diversity as Key for Advancement and Welfare of Humanity at Large”; Dr. Aurora Roxas Lim and Ambassador Rosario Manalo on “Inter-Cultural Dialogue”. Among the reactors are former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Representative Gerry Salapuddin, Atty. Soliman Santos, Dean Carmen Abubakar and Prof. Miriam Ferrer .
The conference output includes a declaration promoting dialogue and publication of the proceedings sponsored by the DFA's Foreign Service Institute (FSI).
End.
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