Dialogue on interfaith cooperation for peace set here March 14-16

Some 150 delegates from 15 countries are expected to attend the three-day Dialogue on Regional Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, Development and Human Dignity set on March 14 to 16 at the Shangri-La Mactan Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City.

The dialogue is being convened by the Philippines through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and the Department of Foreign Affairs with New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia as country co-chairs.

The Philippine Information Agency said that there will be 10 delegates each from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Malaysia and Fiji Islands.

The Cebu dialogue is a follow-on activity from the first Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation, Community Building and Harmony held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia last December 6 and 7, 2004.

The expected output for this dialogue is the Cebu Declaration on Regional Interfaith Cooperation on Peace, Development and Human Dignity and Specific Country-Level Commitments, incorporating recommendations from the workshop themes on regional peace and security, development and human dignity, roles of education and media.

The New Zealand prime minister and the foreign ministers of Australia and Indonesia will give their respective messages while Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza will give the opening remarks. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will welcome the delegates. - Jasmin R. Uy