A conference on “King Abdullah's Initiative for Dialogue among Followers of Religions and Cultures and its Impact on Disseminating Human Values” organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) was opened in Geneva Wednesday under the patronage of Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz. Dr. Samuel Kobia, Secretary General of the World Council of Churches, welcomed the call of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for constructive dialogue among followers of all religions and civilizations and his quest for the promotion of justice, peace and understanding. Thanking the Muslim World League for organizing this conference, Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, said King Abdullah's initiative “provides us with the opportunity for dialogue with a view to ensure greater understanding among followers of religions.” She pointed out that human values and respect for human rights and dignity of life form the bases of all religions, noting that these values are found in all divine holy books. Dr. Bandar Al-Eiban, head of the Saudi Human Rights Commission, noted that the conference will provide a good opportunity to enhance cooperation among representatives of beliefs and cultures and to encourage dialogue as well as enhance the pillars of international cooperation for realizing coexistence. Dr. Al-Eiban pointed out that the initiative of King Abdullah for dialogue among followers of religions and cultures was not the first of his humanitarian initiatives. The King, who combines words with deeds, presented in 2002 a peace initiative in the Middle East which was approved by the Arab summit, held in Beirut in 2002 as well as the initiative of energy for the poor in June 2008. The Kingdom has been extending assistance to the poor countries and to the organizations concerned with combating poverty at the international level in addition to boosting the UN's credit funds, and the UN's childhood fund. Moreover the Kingdom has written off debts on developing countries and extended support to international relief organizations for confronting disasters. These initiatives embody the common responsibility towards the present and future of mankind, he said. Dr. Al-Eiban noted that the Kingdom's message to the world is that dialogue among religions, cooperation of civilizations, tolerance and coexistence as well as fighting poverty, hunger, disease, ignorance, and corruption should be given top priority. This stands as a witness to the Kingdom's humanitarian style which aims at peace and stability and narrowing the gap among nations, he noted. Dr. Al-Eiban said the initiative of King Abdullah aims at putting an end to disputes and tensions which threaten the regional and international peace, and moreover it aims at confronting the acute crises which threaten the bases of development and the world economy. He said the opening of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (Kaust) stands as a witness for the purpose of the initiative and embodies King Abdullah's farsightedness. He pointed out that Kaust will work as a center for knowledge, science, and tolerance as well as a bridge for cooperation among the civilizations and nations of the world.
