Scholars gather in Ankara for unity of Islam, Christianity
(18/04/2005 - www.turkishweekly.net)
The New Anatolian / Ankara
The first session of the 11th International Conference on Islam, Latinity, and Transmodernity began today with an opening ceremony at Bilkent University's Mithat Coruh Conference Hall in Ankara. The university will host the conference participants for three weeks, and the second session of the conference will be held at Bilgi University in Istanbul.
Present at the opening ceremony were Candido Mendes, secretary-general of the Academy of Latinity, Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian deputy foreign minister, Ihsan Dogramaci, president of Bilkent University, Metin Heper, Bilkent's acting dean of the Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences Faculty, Cristovam Buarque, and Ambassador Sule Soysal, director general of overseas promotion of cultural affairs.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was also expected to participate but due to his last-minute parliamentary engagements and the visit of Greek Foreign Minister Molyviatis he was unable to attend. Instead, he sent a message to the conference read by Heper.
In his message, Gul said that the subject of this conference is highly important for the future of states and societies as it provides a place to exchange ideas. "The East and West have been brought closer to each other not by choice but by necessity," Gul wrote in his message. "Turkey is today located at the center of this dynamism. The main reason for choosing Turkey to host this conference is that it's been chosen through its location across different regions that makes Turkey a place of harmony for civilizations."
Mendes made an opening statement mentioning that the Academy of Latinity is an independent organization that's not financially supported by any government or organization. "The aim of the academy is to create a multicultural and multilateral base that links the Latin and Muslim world together in the Mediterranean region," he added.
Mendes described the aim of the academy by saying that it aims to develop a sense of civilization through dialogue, and respect for differences since there is no freedom without difference. "Everyone has a right to have a vision of the world. Our privilege in this conference is to bring together the different voices of the Mediterranean," he added.
Asefi, for his part, stressed the importance of creating a bridge between different cultures and civilizations and thanked Mendes for his remarkable work and the organizers of the conference -- Dogramaci and Bilkent University -- and gave peaceful and constructive messages.
"Christianity and Islam constantly accuse each other. But they should try not to do so for the sake of a better world and future," said Asefi. "The location chosen for the conference is also significant since Ankara is a place located between the Islamic and Christian worlds, and has the ability to understand the two divine religions. We should keep in mind that the essence of monotheistic religions is stability and justice. Therefore, we should promote interfaith cooperation to attain friendship and unity. The existence of diversity should be unified through peaceful coexistence, something lacking these days. If we construct a dialogue on common points and exclude differences, we could attain peace and prosperity. This conference is therefore important since scholars, intellectuals and politicians will be able to expand the climate of friendship and understanding."
Asefi went on to present the points that need to be carried out to attain peace and stability: Establishing a social institution of the Islamic and Christian worlds; understanding each other in order to avoid religious discrimination; concentrating on common values and objections rather than differences; and trying to learn how to listen to each other.
Dogramaci expressed his appreciation of being able to host such important participants at the high-powered conference. "Anatolia and the Balkans are the meeting point of cultures and civilizations. Rather than assimilating each other, the different civilizations of Anatolia and the Balkans have lived in harmony. There's a sense of tolerance that accepts differences as a matter of fact," he said.
Dogramaci also talked about transmodernity, saying that planners think that transmodernity is vital to fight against terrorism. He stressed the importance of holding this conference in Turkey, saying that Turkey is a Muslim country that has adopted democratic way of life.