Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias addressed the 2nd International Conference on Religious Diplomacy titled ‘Religions and Challenges in the New Decade’, held online on Wednesday, 9, and Thursday, 10 December 2020, via video message. The conference was organised by ‘Foreign Affairs The Hellenic Edition’ in collaboration with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Foreign Affairs Institute, under the auspices of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The message by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Dendias, opening the thematic section titled ‘Greece’s stance on the religious issues of the Eastern Mediterranean’, is reproduced below: “Religious Diplomacy has been intrinsic to foreign policy since the dawn of the modern Greek state. Enjoying historical and traditionally friendly ties with the countries and peoples of the Middle East, Greece is a natural interlocutor of the countries in the wider region. Today, Religious Diplomacy is a key parameter of our foreign policy, given that we have entered a new era in the Eastern Mediterranean, where religious issues were always particularly important. Over the last decade, the Christian communities of the Middle East have suffered the majority of the violence, due to the destabilisation of state structures. Greece is aiding efforts to protect religious communities from persecution and is contributing to the protection of religious monuments in the Middle East. In its pursuit of these goals, Greece is undertaking initiatives to raise the awareness of the general public and international institutions, and is cooperating with all international organisations active in the region. During this crisis in the wider region of the Middle East, the seat of the Primeval Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as Mount Sinai Monastery, Greece is taking action to protect the Christian communities, pilgrimages and monuments in the area. Our country's proximity to the Middle East and the centuries-long activity of Greek Orthodox Churches in the region make interfaith dialogue between Christian, Muslim and Jewish peoples a special objective for Greek foreign policy. Greece supports interfaith dialogue as a means for promoting mutual understanding between believers of various religions and respect for human rights. Our country places emphasis on freedom of religion and the protection of the rights of religious communities, with a view to preventing social strife and crises, and acknowledges its contribution, through strengthening social cohesion, towards combating and preventing radicalisation that leads to terrorism and violent extremism. Furthermore, our country is monitoring and supports relevant initiatives in the context of the long-standing dialogue between the Ecumenical Throne, Islam and Judaism. As a country with long political experience, Greece is leveraging the capabilities of Religious Diplomacy, aiming at understanding every form of otherness. Today's multilateral, interdependent reality calls for supporting interfaith dialogue. Greek foreign policy deeply comprehends this need and, therefore, supports the proceedings of this online conference. My warm thanks to you. I wish you every success in your proceedings”.
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