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Muslim-Christian
Forum Hopes For Bilateral Agreements
ISTANBUL,
Feb. 10 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Turkey said Sunday it hoped that
next week's forum between foreign ministers from Christian and Muslim states
would result in numerous informal bilateral agreements, news agencies reported.
Turkish
officials are putting the final touches on preparations for a forum meeting of
the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) this week in
Istanbul, Turkish Daily News online reported.
More
than 30 foreign ministers from the EU and the OIC member countries are expected
to come together for the first time during the high-profile meeting scheduled to
take place on February 11-13.
Turkey's
Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem – whose country called the forum – said it
would "bring a message of peace, cooperation and harmony, which humanity
very much needs right now."
“At
a time when one is discussing conflict between (different) civilizations, the
goal of this forum is to create not conflict but harmony, and it's important to
work around this goal."
He
added that the large number of conference participants would provide the chance
for "a hundred (informal) bilateral agreements" between the various
foreign ministers in attendance.
"After
the tragic events of September 11, humanity has become aware of the difficulties
in mutual understanding, and that prejudices are even stronger than we had
previously thought," Cem said.
The
Turkish minister added that mistakes were still being made in terms of the
definitions of terrorism according to cultural differences.
The
gathering has attracted foreign ministers from both camps, including France,
Germany, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and
Iran, according to a draft list from the organizing committee.
The
list also includes EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the
Secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, along with several
intellectuals including American historian Bernard Lewis.
Turkey,
the only Muslim NATO-member and EU-candidate, took the initiative in October and
suggested both sides hold a joint forum meeting in a bid to challenge an ongoing
debate as to whether a "clash of civilizations" has begun a campaign
against international terrorism with the U.S.
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