INTER- RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

SPECIAL REPORT | 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 http://eurac.tv/9PNc

With the support of INTER- RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

SPECIAL REPORT | 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 Located at a crossroads of different civilizations, http://eurac.tv/9PNc Kazakhstan has placed great importance on promoting religious harmony and mutual respect.

This year the country is hosting the sixth edition of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, an initiative which has its roots in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Contents

Religion should not be used to sow divisions 4

Kazakh researcher: EU is like a dog with an Elizabethan collar 6

Religious leaders raise their flags at Astana gathering 9

A message from Astana: EU, be alert, the fascists are coming 11

Church leader: John Paul II left a legacy in Kazakhstan 13 4 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

OPINION

DISCLAIMER: All opinions in this column reflect the views of the author(s), not of EURACTIV.COM Ltd. Religion should not be used to sow divisions

By Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

The Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan. [Egemen Kazakhstan]

n recent years, many thousands Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is a career other. Religious beliefs give direction, have died and millions more diplomat, chairman of Kazakhstan’s comfort and hope to billions of people. Ihad to flee their homes due to Senate and head of the Secretariat of the Religious communities appear conflicts in which religion has been Congress of the Leaders of World and to have enormous potential for used to justify discrimination and Traditional Religions. addressing today’s social problems. violence. Countering these dangerous Faith groups across the globe are distortions is one of the challenges Religion has been, and remains, prominent in feeding the hungry, that religious leaders will address in an immense spiritual force for good sheltering the homeless and caring for Astana on 10 and 11 October, writes in our world. The shared values which the vulnerable. Our world would be Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. underpin all world’s major faiths have positively moulded how we treat each Continued on Page 5 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV 5

Continued from Page 4 increased from 23 to 80. High-profile more critical to provide the forum attendees included then UN Secretary- where religious and political leaders poorer without the impact of religion General Ban Ki-moon, King Abdullah can work together to prevent any on our lives. of Jordan and President of Finland distortion of faith for violent ends. Throughout history, religion has Sauli Niinistö. Discussions centred The upcoming Congress is so vital for also been exploited to sow divisions. on the role of religion in promoting peace and prosperity. Instead of bringing people together development and measures to reduce and encouraging them to behaving appeal of violent extremism among decently toward each other, it has been young people. abused to fuel suspicions and hatred, The Sixth Congress, which takes spread confusion about the true place on October 10-11, will build essence of religion. We are facing the on this efforts. Its focus is on how problem of ignoring what religions religious leaders can work together to have in common and exaggerating play their full part in creating a secure and distorting the difference between, world and prevent faith being abused and at times within, faiths. to set people against each other. The abuse of religion continues Located at a crossroads of different and is undermining hopes for peace civilizations, Kazakhstan has placed and progress. In recent years, many greater importance on promoting thousands have died and millions religious harmony and mutual more had to flee their homes in respect. Our country’s history and conflicts, in which religion has been geography have combined to create used to justify discrimination and a society in which people of many violence. Countering these dangerous different backgrounds and faiths live distortions is one of the challenges within single boundaries. Religious that religious leaders should address. freedom has become a precious asset There is no single answer. of our nation, which allows diverse Yet at the heart of the solution is beliefs to peacefully coexist and helps dialogue between religions to foster us to negotiate any concerns in a understanding and respect. This is an constructive spirit. overarching aim of the Congress of Such a mixture could have been, as the Leaders of World and Traditional it has been the case in other countries, Religions which is to be held for the a worrying source of tension and sixth time in Kazakhstan’s capital conflict. Despite negative expectations Astana this month (October.) such diversity has been turned into a The Congress was initiated strength in our society where citizens by Kazakh President Nursultan are equally respected and are able to Nazarbayev amid the growing make their full contribution to the religious tensions and extremism common welfare. following the 9/11 terrorist attack As a matter of fact, while in the United States. He believed it Kazakhstan’s population may be was critical that the opportunity be largely Muslim, followers of all provided for religious leaders to work traditional faiths live in harmony with together to prevent religion being each other, are free to worship and used to divide us. enjoy equal rights guaranteed by the His vision has struck a chord constitution. It is a source not only across the world. The Congress, of national pride but has also been which takes place every three years an indispensable platform for our since 2003 has engaged prominent stability and prosperity at home and religious leaders and politicians growing influence abroad. from different countries around In this turbulent world, dialogue most pressing issues. By 2015, the and mutual respect has never been number of delegations attending had more important. Nor has it been 6 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

INTERVIEW Kazakh researcher: EU is like a dog with an Elizabethan collar

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

Sagintay Berdaulova in Astana, on 9 October 2018. [Georgi Gotev]

azakhstan has succeeded President of Kazakhstan in Astana. be held for the sixth time Astana, on where the EU has failed – 10 and 11 October. Tell us about this Kcreating a society based on She spoke to EURACTIV Senior initiative. multiculturalism, Sagintay Berdaulova Editor Georgi Gotev. told EURACTIV in an interview. The first such meeting took place We speak just before the opening of in 2003, not so long after Kazakhstan Sagintay Berdaulova is Lead the Congress of the Leaders of World Researcher of the Library of the First and Traditional Religions which is will Continued on Page 7 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV 7

Continued from Page 6 region. few hundred thousands of Moroccans This is why our President has for to Belgium. Why after so many years formed itself as a new state, in 1991. many years been proposing initiatives were the vast majority of these people This was an initial period of positioning for Afghanistan. We give Afghan not integrated? Why are some so hostile of our country in world affairs, it was students grants so that they could to the West? part of defining our values. obtain good education in Kazakhstan, Obviously this was about and also gain from acquiring a It’s like if your family has invited a positioning Kazakhstan as a peace- culture of communication with guest: everything will depend on how loving country, but also about people from other parts of the world, heartily you will welcome him, this solving internal problems via this from other civilisations. I’m sure will determine his attitude toward you. international positioning. We are these people, who were only used to In Europe, there has been a tradition a very multi-ethnic country, and seeing foreigners as colonizers, have of people being confined in their although we have had no difficulty experienced a very different attitude landscape, be it the Alps, the Pyrenees, preserving our internal peace, we live toward themselves. We are yet to see living in their small environment, in an ever more dangerous world, and what the initiative will produce, but with their customs, values. The influences are possible. creating relations in a non-mentor Europeans already find it difficult to The world is no longer what it style is important. communicate between themselves. In was 70 years ago, when World War 2 my view the same tradition is strongly ended and the international scene was What do you think of the so-called influencing the attitude toward much occupied by politicians. Maybe it’s time international community, it is obviously more alien people. In addition, there to think about spiritual, humanitarian not doing enough to fight religious has never been an objective to integrate values, of which traditionally religions extremim? Let’s take an example, what those people. In the beginning it was have been the exponent. Maybe it’s do you think of the action of the EU to assumed that they come to work, and time to create a new paradigm for help solve the problems you describe? later they will return home. relations between humans, to move So what is called tolerance away from confrontation. By the way, I will say something that may amounts to patience out of necessity. at one of the previous Congresses sound outrageous, but I think the EU In Kazakhstan it’s different, for a it was proposed that the culture of sometimes acts as if it was dog with number of reasons we are more peace should replace the culture of an Elizabethan collar. You know, those friendly, more well-wishing to those confrontation. collars they put on dogs [when they of foreign origin. This is why even if I think it’s very courageous for a have an injury]. The dog sees the world we have isolated radicals, they cannot country to take the lead for such a through this funnel and believes that form a community. The correct way mission, but for us it’s natural, because what it sees is the world. [The EU] only of achieving multiculturalism is not we are used to live at the crossroads of sees what they want to see, they are not creating an alloy, a composition metal, cultures, religions. looking left or right, first because they it’s about creating a mosaic of people don’t think it’s necessary, and second, representing different civilisations. If we look at the map, Kazakhstan because they are afraid of what they is quite close to Afghanistan and could see. Because what they could see Can you formulate some advice to the Pakistan – a very different world to say is very likely to create the urgency of West? the least. What is the risk for extremism doing something about it. be imported in Kazakhstan? Another reason is that the EU is Here we come back to your first in an internal crisis situation, with question: why does Astana host such Unfortunately such a danger its own citizens, and externally, a gatherings of leaders of the different exists, nobody is protected, our good example being the transatlantic religions? We are used to being territory is big, our borders are very relations. Moreover, the EU is at surrounded by different cultures. We long, in addition internet shortens the crossroads: how will it evolve in the live in the steppe, we are not divided distances even more. Unfortunately future? Will the new members be by mountains, by natural barriers. we have had people who got caught in kicked out? Will only old members The fact that we lived in the Soviet those traps, some people went to Syria remain? Union, a multi-nation state, has also to support extremist movements. But played a role. Populations have been this is also why we try to contribute to After World War 2, when the economic brought there artificially, there have making the world a safer place, also conditions were good, some 3 million by being a safe and stable place in our Turks were invited to Germany, and a Continued on Page 8 8 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

Continued from Page 7 got rid of its inferiority complex of more reactionary. Do you agree? being a hopeful to join the EU. And a been [Soviet] initiatives to develop the re-orientation in term of values takes In the case of Russia, I think the ‘Virgin Lands’ [In Russian, ‘Tselina’, place in parallel. Turkey probably Orthodox Church is been used to the Soviet-times name of Astana feels self-sufficient and consequently mask some internal problems of the was Tselinograd], but this has taught is redefining its role in world politics. economy and of society. Moreover, the us that peoples are necessary one I hope that the positive tendencies Russian Orthodox Church is losing to another. We have always had a will prevail, because we are used from huge territories where it used to be lot of land, but too few people. So a history to call Turkey the sick man of influential, such as , and fears newcomer was always precious. And Europe. that the process will continue with in our ancient history, we didn’t have other countries. I think the Russian capital punishment, because each Turkey used to be secular, but we see Orthodox Church is a manifestation person was precious. shifts. Is this worrying? of a certain imperialist mentality that In the last 26-27 years, if we have exists in Russia. been successful, as independent The role of religion is increasing Kazakhstan, it’s thanks to this mosaic, in many places, including in Turkey. Do you feel that in Kazakhstan? and we realise this. The world is changing and people are in search of what could preserve their Not really, because the Orthodox You gave as example the Soviet legacy identity for the future. In addition, have become a minority, now 70% in a positive way, but the same legacy Turkey finds itself entangled in the of our population are Kazakhs, and has created wounds elsewhere, like in knot of the Middle East problems. And as you know the vast majority of Nagorno-Karabakh, and there is no Turkey needs to leverage itself vis-à- Kazakhs are Muslim. Moreover, the recipe how these could heal. What is vis its Islamic environment by raising 23% of Russians and Ukrainians in your comment? the religious flag. But I don’t thing Kazakhstan are divided. And they Turkey will become a religious state, cannot raise issues, because according Armenia is a very mono-ethnic such as Iran. The Turkish society is to our constitution religion cannot country. Even in Soviet times 90% much different, and many ethnicities interfere in state affairs. But the of the population were Armenians. are represented in Turkish society. churches are there, people gather In contrast, Kazakhs in Kazakhstan Especially in a megapolis such as there on religious holidays. People in during Soviet times were less than Istanbul this is impossible. Recent Kazakhstan maintain their religious 40%. The rest: Russians, Ukrainians, elections have shown that Turkey is identity at the ritual level. There is Polish, German, Tatars, Uzbeks, are all divided at 50-50. I don’t think that the no fanaticism in Kazakhstan and the ours. The ensuing inter-dependence, future of Turkey is the religious state. Kazakhs are not fanatic Muslims. mutual support, also were formed The other religions feel no need to in severe climatic conditions, with What about the Christian world defend themselves, because they are minus 40 degrees in the winter and extremists, for example the Creationists not attacked. But I suspect that there plus 40 in the summer. A few weeks in the US who oppose Darwin? is a sense of unease about what is ago we organized a round table, the happening in Russia. Ambassador of Armenia was also I don’t think it’s sustainable to present and said its country will question if man descended from withhold this place d’armes even apes, but such theories can still be with the use of military force. For the used by populists to attain their goals, Kazakh mentality such language is including opposing international unusual. efforts to mitigate climate change. But I think the scientific approach will Kazakhstan has excellent relations prevail. One of the goals of the Astana with Turkey, but Turkey is also meetings is to encourage religious changing. How do you see this change? enlightenment.

It’s a difficult question. A couple The Serbian Orthodox Church played a of years ago I could say that Turkey is very negative role during the Yugoslav trying to fend off various perceived wars. And in Russia the Russian attacks. Today I can say that Turkey Orthodox Church is becoming more and 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV 9

Religious leaders raise their flags at Astana gathering

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

Ayatollah Sheikh Mohsen Araghi [R] chats with his delagation in Astana, 10 October 2018. [Georgi Gotev}]

azakhstan was praised today These meetings are the brainchild and Traditional Religions can be (10 October) as it hosted for of Kazakh President Nursultan considered its hallmark, since we built Kthe sixth time the Congress of Nazarbayev, who is leveraging the Astana as a Eurasian city of the future, the Leaders of World and Traditional traditions of religious tolerance in open to all cultures”, Nazarbayev said Religions, which traditionally issues Kazakhstan and trying to promote this in his speech, which he delivered in in messages of peace, mutual respect model at the global level. Russian, adding that the well-known and tolerance. A few religious leaders, Unsurprisingly, Nazarbayev, who principle of “unity in diversity” was however, defended their countries opened the event together which the true philosophy of the Kazakh controversial policies. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, capital. who was the highest non-ecclesiastical The president also reminded The two-day event opened in its guest at political level, mentioned that that Astana had become a place that traditional venue, the Palace of Peace Astana, the new capital of the country attracts international peace-making and Reconciliation, a surrealistic and another of his masterplans, processes and unifying initiatives. specially-built building in the form of a celebrated its twentieth anniversary Indeed, in recent years, Astana pyramid where the first such Congress this year. was held in 2003. “The Congress of Leaders of World Continued on Page 10 10 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

Continued from Page 9 “The same could have happened mosaic. It can be an example for those in Syria, had not Russia interfered countries where tensions and conflicts has hosted meetings on nuclear in the situation”, he said. He further exist due to ethnic or religious disarmament and assisting peace- argued that terrorism as the world diversity”, the Vatican high official making in Syria. experiences it today was a result of said. Religious leaders, who obviously Western “interference in internal For his part, Serbian President represented religions not controversial affairs”. Vucic appealed to world religious in the countries they came from, The Russian representative also leaders to help preserve the Serbian were generous in complimenting called on the participants to “unite monasteries in Kosovo. Kazakhstan for its initiative, but strengths for the reconstruction of several of them used the tribune to Syria and Iraq”. make political statements. Hilarion’s argument that Perhaps the strangest statement interference in a country’s internal came from Chun Yi, a dressed in yellow affairs amounted to terrorism monk, deputy chair of the Buddhist was developed further by the Association of China, who spoke as if representative of a country with good he was a business lobbyist for the ‘One relations with . A cleric from belt-one road’ initiative. Iran, Ayatollah Sheikh Mohsen Araghi, According to translation, he appealed that this Congress, or similar said that ‘One belt-one road’ was gatherings, should define the concept an example to promote ‘Buddhism of terrorism. In his words, terrorism China-style’ via the traditional Silk comes from hegemons who want to Road route. impose their culture and economy on Kazakhstan is a strong supporter other countries. of the “One belt-one road initiative”, Without mentioning the US by although the country’s problems with name, he said and repeated that China are not to be underestimated. there were some who wanted to The representative of the Russian destroy other people’s cultures and Orthodox Church, Metropolitan their identity. As translated, he Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of further argued that “his region” (he the Moscow Patriarchate for external didn’t mention Iran a single time, church relations, made his first possibly speaking as a Shiite leader) controversial statement while he was suffers from “economic terrorism”, introducing himself. namely sanctions “imposed on entire He said he was the representative of peoples, who are deprived of the most a church uniting millions of Orthodox important things for everyday life”. Christians in many countries: “Russia, EURACTIV asked some of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and the delegates to comment on the in several other countries”. In fact, statements of the representatives from the Ukrainian Orthodox church Iran and Russia, but received polite is determined to break away from and diplomatic answers that politics Russia’s control. Moscow, however, and religion sometimes interfere. is using its vast influence with the Most of the other statements were Orthodox world to block any rupture, less controversial, but some were but it is facing headwinds, like in surprising. The Vatican representative, Bulgaria, whose Orthodox church Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, sided with Kyiv. President Emeritus of the Pontifical Hilarion indirectly blamed Council for legislative texts, paid the West for having fomenting tribute to Kazakhstan’s secularism. terrorism by “destroying” Iraq and “Kazakhstan is blessed for being a Libya, supposedly “in the name of secular state, rich in ethnic religious democracy”, but which had resulted in and cultural diversity, and respectful “chaos”. for all the components of its rich 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV 11

A message from Astana: EU, be alert, the fascists are coming

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

Marek Halter in Astana on 11 October 2018. [Georgi Gotev]

arek Halter, a Jew and and the fascists are growing,” Halter while they see the forces of order as Holocaust survivor, used said, adding that the reason for that oppressors. Mthe Congress of the Leaders was Islamophobia. He compared the Halter has also criticised Macron of World and Traditional Religions to situation with the Nazi attitude to Jews. and his government for being afraid to warn Europeans that there is a high In recent years, Halter, a writer, has set foot in the neighbourhoods where risk that fascists campaigning on the been campaigning in France against Muslims live and to talk to the people. Islamophobia ticket win big in next the stigmatisation of Muslims and He said he hoped there would be year’s European elections. the amalgamation of their religion to a journalist in the room to send the terrorism. message: “Don’t worry, you don’t have Although there were few Europeans He made a short reference to his to be afraid [of Muslims]”, adding that at the two-day Congress in Kazakhstan, activities in France organising marches those in power “are afraid to say it”. which gathered religious leaders from of Imams for Dignity. In a recent letter Halter’s life deserves a novel. He was across the world in the capital Astana, to French President Emmanuel Macron, born in 1936 in Poland. During World Halter turned to the European audience, he wrote that millions of Muslims living War II, his parents escaped the warning about the risks at the May 2019 in France see themselves caricatured ghetto and went to the , European elections. in public debates. Consequently, their “We are going to European elections religious identity becomes a defence, Continued on Page 12 12 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

Continued from Page 11 guy, but to make peace I need a general. at the end of the studies, hundreds And Peres told me – go to meet with of young Kazakhs obtain a Sorbonne ending up in Kazakhstan. [Yitzhak] Rabin, he’s a general. And we diploma, one of the best universities in When EURACTIV complimented did that. But Rabin was killed. History the world”. Halter on looking very young for his is always a recommencement, but it’s The Congress of the Leaders of 84 years, he replied: “It’s because I’m never the same. Because the world World and Traditional Religions ended fighting. Everybody who has ideals changed the day I brought Netanyahu with the adoption of a final declaration, and is ready to die for his ideas will die – I wanted to bring Khaled Mashal But pledging support to all efforts aimed young.” Netanyahu didn’t want to meet Mashal, at preventing attempts to fragment He said that his family escaped the he met Mahmoud Abbas.” society on religious, racial or ethnic with the help of Polish Mashal is a Palestinian political grounds. Catholic friends to the Russian part of leader who has led the Islamic The next such Congress will take occupied Poland, from where they were Palestinian organisation Hamas since place in three years but, meanwhile, sent to Moscow. the Israeli assassination of Abdel Aziz a centre has been created to ensure “Stalin sent us to Kazakhstan, al-Rantisi in 2004. He stepped down as compliance with the decisions Almaty, a total of a million refugees. My Hamas’ politburo chief at the end of his adopted. Seminars and other meetings little sister died of hunger. Then they term limit in 2017. will take place all over the world. sent us to , and then after the Asked if politicians abuse what they Kazakhstan’s deputy foreign war, on Victory Day (9 May in Russia), think is their right to speak in the name minister, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, told they sent me to give flowers to Stalin of God, he said: journalists that one could not expect in Moscow. And then we came back “This is a good question. I ask big changes to happen overnight and to Poland, but anti-Semitism was very politicians to do something together. results to be valid indefinitely. strong. We found family in so we It’s not enough for them to say “I “We have to engage permanently went to Paris,” he said. did something in the church, or I in that dialogue”, he stressed. In Paris, where he arrived at the age did something in the synagogue, or Kazakh diplomats were present at of 14, he later became a writer and his I did something in the mosque. Do the Congress but were very discrete, books have sold millions of copies. it together. We have to condemn leaving the entire stage to the religious “I share my ideas with millions everybody who is ready to kill in the leaders. of people, but it’s not enough. I try to name of God”. Participants told EURACTIV that fight for peace, I organised the first Asked about his commitment to in its first editions, religious leaders contact between the Israelis and the Kazakhstan, he said that a Kazakh found it very difficult to sit at the same Palestinians, between Arafat and had saved his life. One day when he table, and talks on adopting a common Shimon Peres. I brought Sadat to Israel, was 8 years old, he was about to die of document lasted very late into the and he was killed. I brought Rabin to hunger, and in the market place, an old night. Nowadays religious leaders are Arafat, who was a good friend of mine, Kazahk told him “Malchik [young boy said to have a completely different and Rabin was killed,” Halter said. in Russian], come and eat this lepioshka attitude and have started caring about Asked how he had succeeded where [small bread], because if you don’t, you the process they find useful. diplomats failed, he said: will die from hunger. “I love people. I went to Egypt, I met 75 years later, he brought French [Gamal Abdel] Nasser, we changed President François Hollande to the epoch. This was a time of ideology. Kazakshtan. “I know all of them”, he All the people around Nasser were said, speaking about the French heads Marxists. And they understood that of state. on the Israeli side, they had brothers He told Hollande he wanted to do too, poor people who are fighting for a something about the Kazakhs because better life. With Arafat it was the same. they saved his life. “What do you have Arafat was a nationalist and when I told in mind”, Hollande reportedly asked. him I will bring him another another “I want to give them a Sorbonne- nationalist in my home in Paris, Shimon Kazakhstan,” was his answer. Peres, he came.” “So we went together to Almaty, I More fascinating anecdotes brought [the President of Kazakhstan] followed: Nazarbayev, and we inaugurated four “And Arafat said – Peres is a good years ago Sorbonne-Kazakhstan. And 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV 13

Church leader: John Paul II left a legacy in Kazakhstan

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

Tomasz Peta in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, on 10 October 2018. [Georgi Gotev}]

eligious dialogue in the service country in such dramatic international Jiang Zemin, Nelson Mandela, Valéry of peace is a brainchild of circumstances – the visit took place Giscard d’Estaing, Mikhail Gorbachev Rthe President of Kazakhstan, only days after the 9/11 terrorist and others. inspired by the visit of Pope John Paul attacks in the US, which opened new EURACTIV spoke with Peta in the II to Kazakhstan in September 2001, a pages in modern history. margins of the sixth edition of the Catholic priest who helped organize On 23-24 September 2003, Astana Congress, which takes place every the visit told EURACTIV. hosted the first Congress of Leaders three years in Astana. Both Peta and of World and Traditional Religions, Pope John Paul II are of Polish origin. Tomasz Peta, the current Catholic in a building specially built for The deportation of Catholics and Archbishop of the Metropolitan this purpose: a pyramid called The their clergy to concentration camps Archdiocese of Saint Mary in the city Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. in the country by Soviet leader Joseph of Astana, and leader of the Catholic Reportedly, Nazarbayev’s initiative Stalin caused a great increase in the community in Kazakhstan, said received the support of international Catholic population of Kazakhstan. that Nazarbayev had been deeply politicians, such as Kofi Annan, impressed by the Pope’s visit to his George W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Continued on Page 14 14 9 - 15 OCTOBER 2018 | SPECIAL REPORT | INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE | EURACTIV

Continued from Page 13 the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said that today identity- Some of the priests later decided to based violence and conflicts were on help build the church in that country. the rise. He added that terrorism and Peta was sent by his Polish diocese violent extremists were manipulating to work in Kazakhstan in 1990. He religion, and that in this context later became a Kazakh national. the efforts of Kazakhstan to sustain He said many of the Catholics of peace and security deserved special Polish or German origin had since recognition. He also paid tribute left Kazakhstan, and the Catholic to Kazakhstan as a non-permanent population of Kazakhstan stood at less member of the UN Security Council than 150,000, but that it had become for 2017-2018. more ethnically diversified. “We have to stay alert to any The main event of the Pontiff’s manipulation of religion that leads to visit was the Holy Mass which was violent extremism”, he said. He added held on 24 September morning for that in his UN role, he was active 50.000 Catholics in the largest square in promoting the #SpreadNoHate of Astana. Pilgrims had come from initiative, a platform engaging global all over Central Asia, Russia, the media in an initiative to provide Baltic states, Poland and other parts counter-narratives to hate speech. of the world. More than 450 foreign Several symposia were organized journalists came to cover the event. worldwide, each one aiming at Peta recalled that during his visit identifying the triggers of hate speech, to Kazakhstan, The Pontiff said that and in the case of Europe, hate speech Kazakhstan had the mission of being a against migrants and refugees. bridge between religions, nations and Al-Nasser also said there was much continents. to do to promote the role of women, Many participants to the Sixth who continue to be marginalized in Congress of Leaders of World and many societies. Traditional Religions held on 10-11 “There cannot be inclusive October praised the ethnic harmony and resilient societies without the and religious tolerance in Kazakhstan, participation of women”, he said. a majority-Muslim country with Very few women were among the strong secular traditions, citing it as participants to the congress, and none an example for others to follow. of the official delegates was a women. Kazakhstan’s commitment to inter- faith dialogue, by bringing together spiritual leaders to contribute to establishing a culture of peace was praised by Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, with whom EURACTIV spoke as well. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is an initiative proposed by the President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations in 2005. It was co- sponsored by the then Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Al-Nasser, a Qatari diplomat, who was in Astana representing For information on EURACTIV Special Reports...

Contact us Arnaud Sonnet Public Affairs Director [email protected] tel. +32 (0)2 226 58 17 Georgi Gotev Senior Editor [email protected] tel. +32 (0)2 788 36 76