10/3/2014 Interfaith dialogue efforts support the municipality

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Interfaith dialogue efforts support the municipality
The initiative for the meeting, held in Thessaloniki town hall belonged to the
Government of Jordan
October 30, 2013 - 17:00
With representatives from academia, civil society, Muslim communities
throughout Greece, local authorities and the Greek and Jordanian Government,
yesterday, a conference on "Strengthening the values of Christians-Islamic
coexistence in Greece through education, religious freedom and human rights. "
The initiative for the meeting, held in Thessaloniki town hall belonged to the
government of Jordan, with the aim of promoting the message of Amman for
Christians-Islamic coexistence , held under the auspices of the Municipality
of Thessaloniki, as part of the celebrations of the Year of Saints Cyril and
Methodius, and funded by the European Union.
The work welcomed representatives of co Tsakali Maria, Head of the British
Council in Thessaloniki and Honorary Consul of Great Britain in Kairidis and
Dimitris, Associate Professor of International Relations at Panteion University and
Director of the Network of Navarino.
Welcoming the attendees Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutari, stressed the
importance of the event for the city. On his part, the Executive Director of
Tourism and International Relations of Thessaloniki, Spiros Pegas noted that
Council supports all efforts interfaith dialogue and peaceful interfaith coexistence
in a city that historically has confirmed its willingness to allow the different
10/3/2014 Interfaith dialogue efforts support the municipality
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religious communities to coexist peacefully.
During the installation of the Secretary General Religious Affairs of the Ministry of
Education, George Kalantzis, noted that fear and prejudice are the causes of
those who do not allow peaceful coexistence, stressing the need for proper
training of religious functionaries. Further note that the Greek Constitution fully
protects religious freedom and the Greek State guarantees and protects the
rights of all religious minorities characteristics indicating that Greece is the only
European country in which the application of Islamic Sharia law.
Upon completion of the work of the conference stressed that what is needed
today is a substantial and honest interreligious dialogue, with the ultimate aim of
deconstruction of stereotypes and peaceful coexistence.