United Nations Radio

A high-level meeting on interfaith dialogue concludes today at UN Headquarters. The special session, which is being held in the UN General Assembly, has brought together religious and world leaders who are committed to building a culture of peace. This morning participants heard from outgoing US President George Bush, who spoke about the role faith has played in his life.

BUSH:One of my core beliefs is that there is an Almighty God and that every man, woman and child on the face of this Earth bears his image. Faith has sustained me through the challenges and the joys of my presidency. And faith will guide me for the rest of my days.

NARR:Mr. Bush said he appreciated those who recognize the transformative and uplifting power of faith.

BUSH:We may profess different creeds and worship in different places, but our faith leads us to common values. We believe God calls to love our neighbours and to treat one another with compassion and respect. We believe God calls us to live in peace and to oppose all those who use his name to justify violence and murder.

NARR:The two-day meeting was held at the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote understanding and cooperation between religions and cultures. As Jordan's King Abdullah II noted, it would be impossible to talk about interfaith harmony, particularly between the East and the West, without discussing conflict resolution in the Middle East.

King Abdullah II:The conflict between Israel and Palestinians is the core conflict in our region. It is a political conflict and it demands a just, negotiated solution...one that brings statehood and freedom for Palestinians and security and more regional acceptance for Israel.

NARR:Israeli President Shimon Peres said the peoples of the region shared hopes and dreams, noting that children there are named for the prophets of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Peres:Avraham, Abraham, and Ibrahim grow up as adversaries, in animosity. Why? Why should Moses, Moshe and Musa live that way? And our prophets asked: 'Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal deceitfully, every man against his brother by profaning the covenant of our fathers.'

NARR:Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad observed that religious tolerance and coexistence is a pre-requisite for peace.

Fayyad:In order to preserve this noble human requirement which all religions without exception have called for, we must promote and deepen dialogue aimed at achieving peace between humans. And to avoid conflict, suppress all acts of aggression and arrogance and insure respect for the distinctions and differences amongst religions, cultures and civilizations of people.

NARR:The two-day session brought together leaders from around the globe. On the eve of the meeting, General Assembly president Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann stated the gathering was not about religion or theology, but values.

BROCKMANN 1:It is to reach down to our faith values or ethical convictions that are needed to bail out humanity. You have heard a lot of talk about bailing out Wall Street, bailing out this and that and the other. Humanity is in a moral bankruptcy. We are in a need of being bailed out.

Producer: Dianne Penn

(duration: 4'04")