Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah has commended the ongoing 5th UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Vienna and said it was important for the world to stand as one against crises and disasters facing humanity. “Many of the problems facing the world are caused by a lack of rationalization, wisdom, justice and equality,” he told the Saudi Press Agency. Discussing the interfaith initiative launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah seven years ago, Prince Abdulaziz said it was aimed at enticing religious leaders to participate in decision making with political leaders. “Through dialogue and mutual respect the world can easily break down the psychological and historical barriers that had accumulated over the years, causing rifts in relations between nations and igniting crises amid an atmosphere of hatred and mistrust.” Prince Abdulaziz said King Abdullah's call for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among followers of various religions and cultures was followed by his appeal to religious and cultural leaders to focus on the factors that would unite them. “The Vienna forum, which is a humanitarian act, should be made into an international institutional project to ensure the participation of influential religious and cultural leaders.” He said the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna is the first international institution of its kind in the world to foster dialogue among various religions, cultures and civilizations. The center was officially opened in November 2012. Prince Abdulaziz said: “The center delivers a message of peace and love to the leaders of the world to build new channels of communications through dialogue and mutual respect regardless of their religious and cultural disparities.” He said the alliance between civilizations should be based on respect for every religion and every civilization and should stem from justice and equality among all people.
