Manila: Starting tomorrow, representatives of the government, Milf and senior religious leaders will gather for a two-day International Conference on Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue for peace to demonstrate their continuous support for the Mindanao peace process.
Funded by the European Union and Italy, the conference is being convened by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, together with the Community of Sant’Egidio and in cooperation with the Muhammadiyah from Indonesia.
The peace conference will take place on June 6-7, two months after the visit of EU and member states’ ambassadors and representatives to Mindanao in early April to promote the culture of peace.
The peace conference is aimed primarily to promote and intensify the dialogue between the different religious and political stakeholders in Mindanao.
It seeks to encourage the actors of today’s peace process to meet the challenges of building the new society built on peaceful living together, the respect for human rights, and the participation of minorities in public life.
The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the completion of the draft of the basic law represent institutional milestones of a formal process.
The conference represents an effort to ensure that these milestones are shared and endorsed by all members of society so that what is achieved in Mindanao is a lasting peace.
The conference will also be an opportunity to inform relevant peace stakeholders on developments in the peace situation in the country.
Since 2007 the EU has been promoting and supporting the conclusion of a politically negotiated settlement of the conflict in Mindanao.
EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said, “Our commitment to co-fund this event is not only an expression of belief and conviction in the path towards peace in Mindanao.”
Ledoux added, “It emphasises our strong confidence that interfaith dialogue has the capacity to go beyond political processes: to promote understanding, the respect and appreciation of others, as well as their different values, principles and faiths.”
“Our own European experience may provide useful pointers to serve as basis for mutual understanding and societies in Mindanao where people share values and promote peace throughout their communities.”
Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno said: “The government of Italy is glad to support this event, as well as the overall role that the community of Sant’Egidio is playing in contributing to the peace process in Mindanao.
“Italy has a long tradition as an upholder of interfaith and intercultural dialogue as a powerful tool to foster social harmony and mutual understanding.
The Philippine Star
