Continuing the Tradition of Spiritual Concord

02/11/2022 11:27

On October 26, 2022, Moscow hosted the International Forum on Spiritual Harmony with the participation of representatives of public organizations, national-cultural and religious associations from the regions of Russia, from Austria, Azerbaijan, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan. Timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Congress on Spiritual Concord, the Forum continued the line of strengthening interethnic and interreligious dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence of peoples.

The moderators were Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary General of the International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations "Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly", and Svetlana Smirnova, Chairman of the Council of the All-Russian Public Organization "Assembly of the Peoples of Russia".

The initiative of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly and the Russian Peoples' Assembly was supported by the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, the Federation Council and the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation.

The Forum received greetings from Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs; Polad Bulbul Ogly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation; Talgat Safa Tadzhuddin, Supreme Mufti, Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia.

Grigory Ordzhonikidze, Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, delivered a welcoming speech:

“In our joint work with the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, we consistently proceed from the fact that the comprehensive strengthening of international humanitarian cooperation, the promotion of the ideas of tolerance, respect for cultural diversity, the national identity of peoples, the development of equal interethnic and interreligious dialogue is a path that has no alternative”.

The participants of the Forum were also welcomed by: Vladimir Zorin, Chairman of the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on harmonization of interethnic and interregional relations, member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation on interethnic relations; Kabuljon Sabirov, Director of the SCO Public Diplomacy Center (Uzbekistan); Olzhas Suleimenov, Director of the International Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO, category II (Kazakhstan).

The history of the Day of Spiritual Harmony was highlighted by Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov, President of the International Association "Peace through Culture", Co-Chairman of the World Forum of Spiritual Culture (Kazakhstan). Thanks to his efforts the ideas of the First Congress on Spiritual Concord were embodied in Kazakhstan and a number of other countries.

Reports on the Forum’s topics were made by: Yuri Ageshin, Vice-President of the International Association "Peace through Culture", member of the Presidium of the World Forum of Spiritual Culture; Alexander Ageev, General Director of the International Research Institute for Management Problems; priest Andrey Titushkin, representative of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Sergei Ryakhovsky, Commanding Bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals); Sergei Kirishov, Vice-President of the Buddhist Union of Kalmykia; Alexander Domnin, representative of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia; Liehr Gunthild, member of the International Association “Peace through Culture. Europe" (Austria); Ivan Belekov, Advisor to the Head of the Altai Republic; Lisbeth Augustat, First Vice-President of the International Association “Peace through Culture. Europe" (Austria); Suheil Farach, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education; Margarita Al, Chairman of the Literary Council of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly.

Alexandra Ochirova, Co-Chair of the General Council of the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, member of the State Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, shared her vision of the development vector of the modern world in her conceptual speech:

“Meanings and values ​​are a strategic resource of mankind... This is a spiritual and cultural moral line, a strategic basis for stability and security. This is the language, traditions, faith, paintings, books, music, filled with the feelings and talents of people. This is a reflection of the ascent on the steps of reason, morality and knowledge. It is values ​​that attract elements of stability and predictability into people's lives. It is values ​​that form unity, a sense of inclusion and belonging to a greater integrity”.

In the speeches of the participants of the International Forum on Spiritual Harmony, important proposals were made on the formation of a new world humanitarian agenda, the need for further development of the topic, the expansion of the International Action "Day of Spiritual Harmony of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly". The next International Forum of Spiritual Harmony is scheduled to be held in May 2023 in Samarkand (Uzbekistan).

Presentation (PDF)

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Resolution (PDF)