XIX SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

General information. For the first time the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was convened on September 23-24, 2003 on the initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy N. Nazarbayev.

Speaking on February 13, 2003 at the International Conference on Peace and Harmony, which played an important role in the rapprochement religion, cultures and civilizations, and was attended by authoritative religious leaders and representatives of Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, Elbasy addressed representatives of all faiths with the initiative to hold a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan.

Representatives of the Catholic Church were among the first to support the idea of the Congress during the visit of Elbasy to the Vatican.

The fact that the heads of the USA, Russia, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Poland, Germany, as well as the heads of major international organizations sent their greetings to the Congress testifies to the world global recognition of the success and confidence in new initiative of Kazakhstan.

Mission of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions:

• Search for universal reference points in world and traditional forms of religions.
• The functioning of the permanent international Institute for the implementation of interreligious dialogue and concerted action.

Key priorities of the Congress:

• Affirmation of peace, harmony and tolerance as unshakeable principles of human existence.
• Achievement of mutual respect and tolerance between religions, confessions, Nations and ethnicities.
• Preventing the use of people's religious feelings to escalation of conflicts and hostilities.

Objectives of the Congress:

• Strengthening the traditions of intercivilizational, interreligious and interfaith dialogue and harmony.
• Creation of a permanent body of the Congress of World and Traditional Leaders for the coordinated, objective and competent preparation of the ideology and concept of future interreligious summits.
• Cooperation and interaction with all international organizations, centers and structures aimed at promoting dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations.
• Expansion of the dialogue between representatives of different cultures and religions with the involvement of representatives of secular and religious media, youth associations, scientific and creative intelligentsia.
• Promoting global dialogue between civilizations, cultures and religions.
• Deepening and strengthening mutual understanding and respect between religious communities.
• Development of a culture of tolerance and mutual respect as a counterbalance to the ideology of hatred and extremism.
• Prevention of the prevalence of theses about the «Clash of Civilizations», expressed in the opposition of religions and spiritual traditions, further politicization of theological disputes, attempts to discredit one religion on the part of the other.

Chronology of the Congress:

I Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on 23-24 September 2003 in Astana. The interfaith summit was attended by spiritual hierarchs and honorary guests from 13 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

II Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on September 12-13, 2006. The work of the Congress took place in a new, purpose-built building - the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The interfaith summit was attended by 29 delegations - representatives of world and traditional religions and guests of honor from 20 countries of Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

The key theme of the Congress is «Religion, Society and International Security».

III Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on July 1-2, 2009. The Congress was attended by 77 delegations from 35 countries of the world, who represented at the summit all the major religions of the world.

The key theme of the Congress: «The role of religious leaders in building a world based on tolerance, mutual respect and cooperation».

IV Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on May 30-31, 2012. The Congress was attended by 85 delegations from 40 countries of the world, representing all world and traditional religions, as well as authoritative religious and international organizations.

The key theme of the Congress: «Peace and harmony as the choice of mankind».

V Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on June 10-11, 2015. The Congress was attended by over 80 delegations from 42 countries of the world, representing all world and traditional religions, as well as authoritative religious leaders, politicians and international organizations.

The key theme of the Congress: «Dialogue of religious leaders and political figures for the sake of peace and development».

VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Held on October 10-11, 2018. More than 82 delegations from 43 countries of the world, representing all world and traditional religions, as well as authoritative religious and international organizations, took part in the Congress.

The key theme of the Congress is «Religious Leaders for a Safe World».

Initiatives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions:

Initiatives of II Congress:

• Creation of the International Center for Cultures and Religions under the auspices of the Congress.
• Leaders of world and traditional religions are invited to give lectures at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.
• Adoption of the document «Principles of Interreligious Dialogue».
• Adoption of the Declaration of the Participants of the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

Initiatives of III Congress:

• Creation of the Council of Religious Leaders.
• Development under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Congress of the Concept of the Council of Religious Leaders, whose activities will be aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with other authoritative forums and international organizations.
• As a result of the interreligious summit, a final document was adopted – «Appeal of the Participants of the Third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions».

Initiatives of IV Congress:

• Creation of an Internet resource as part of a common electronic portal G-GLOBAL - GREAT WORLD, whose mission is to promote the principles and values of global tolerance and trust in societies and states.
• Holding the 1st meeting of the Council of Religious Leaders, as well as the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
• Adoption of the final document «Appeal of the Participants of the Fourth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions».

Initiatives of V Congress:

• Establishment of the Congress awards:
• Astana International Prize for Contribution to Interfaith Dialogue
• Medal of Honor of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
• Creation of the Museum of Peace and Reconciliation.

Initiatives of VI Congress:

• Creation of the «Nursultan Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue» in recognition of the outstanding contribution of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the process of global interaction in the name of peace and harmony.

 

THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

General information. The Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is the working body of the Congress, which ensures activities in the intervals between its sessions.

Founded according to the decision of the participants of the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on September 23-24, 2003 in Astana.

Head of the Secretariat of the Congress – Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Secretariat includes plenipotentiary representatives of leaders of world and traditional religions from Islam, Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Lutheranism), Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Shintoism.

In the period from 2003 to 2021 were held 18 meetings of the Secretariat of the Congress.

The Secretariat:

– provides preparation for meetings of the Council and Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions;

– develops proposals and agenda of the Congress for approval by the Council;

*For reference: The Council of Religious Leaders is the governing body of the Congress of World and Traditional Religions. The Council of Religious Leaders includes leaders of major world and traditional religious associations and confessions. The Council is created with the written consent of the heads – leaders of world and traditional religions. With the consent of the founders or on the recommendation of the Secretariat, new members may be included in the Council. Meetings of the Council are convened at least once every three years. In exceptional cases, extraordinary meetings of the Council may be convened. The first Council was held in 2012 as part of the IV Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions (dates of Council meetings 2012, 2015, 2018). The council can make statements or appeals during a crisis.

– prepares draft texts of Declarations, Appeals and other final documents adopted by the Council;

– ensures the distribution of draft decisions or other documents to the members of the Council;

– on behalf of the Council, the Head of the Secretariat represents the Congress in its relations with other interreligious forums and organizations.

 

XIX SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS OF LEADERS OF WORLD AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS

On the eve of XIX Secretariat of the Congress, on October 5, 2021 (Nur-Sultan), a meeting of the Working Group of the Secretariat of the Congress will be held under the leadership of Chairman of the Management Board of N.Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue, the Commissioner for promoting the goals and objectives of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Bulat Sarsenbayev.

Representatives of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Appeal and Instruction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Institute for the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University of Islamabad (Pakistan), the Ministry of Waqfs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Bureau of Islam of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See for Interfaith Dialogue (Vatican), World Lutheran Federation, the Church of England (UK), Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, Korean Buddhist Organization «Chogye» in Central Asia and Jaeunsa Temple, Program on Interfaith Relations and Mutual Understanding of «Somaya Vidyavihar» University (India) and others are expected to participate in the meeting of the Working Group.

A complete list of the participants of the Working Group of the XIX Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be posted on the website of N. Nazarbayev Center: http://religions-congress.org.

On October 6, 2021, at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Nur-Sultan), a meeting of XIX Secretariat of the Congress will be held under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Maulen Ashimbayev.

The agenda of XIX Secretariat of the Congress provides for the consideration of the following issues:

1. Progress in preparations for VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and the significance of the Congress in the context of post-pandemic development.
2. The format of the holding, as well as the topics of the plenary and breakout sessions of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in 2022 with the participation of the First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev on resolving global crises in the light of new challenges and global opportunities, as well as defining the role of modern religious leaders in the convergence of cultures, societies and civilizations.
3. Criteria for awarding the Astana International Prize for Contribution to Interreligious Dialogue and the Medal of Honor of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
4. Discussion of the draft Special document on the outstanding role of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy N.А. Nazarbayev in promoting intercivilizational and interreligious dialogue.
5. Determination of the date and place of XX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress.

Representatives of foreign religious leaders and heads of international centers are expected to attend the XIX meeting of the Secretariat, including the Al-Azhar Academy of Islamic Studies (Egypt), the Islamic World League (Saudi Arabia), the Caucasian Muslims Office (Azerbaijan), the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Appeal and Instruction (Saudi Arabia), the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University of Islamabad (Pakistan), Ministry of Waqfs of Egypt, Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bureau of Islam of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican), the Church of England (UK), Lutheran World Federation, Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, World Buddhist Community (Thailand), Chinese Buddhist Association, Chinese Taoist Association, Shinto organization «Jinja Honche» (Japan), Program on Interfaith Relations and Mutual Understanding of «Somaya Vidyavihar» University (India), UN Alliance of Civilizations (USA), Muslim Council of Elders (UAE) and others.

At the same time, representatives of religious associations of Kazakhstan and the first leaders of the country will take part in the work of the XIX session of the Secretariat:

1. Ashimbayev – Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
2. Balayeva – Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue.
3. Rakhmetullin – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress.
4. Yegizbayev – Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Congress.

A complete list of participants in the XIX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be posted on the website of N.Nazarbayev Center: http://religions-congress.org.

 

A SERIES OF ROUND TABLES IN THE EVE AND AFTER THE XIX SECRETARIAT OF THE CONGRESS

As part of the preparatory work for the XIX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress, N. Nazarbayev Center for Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the basis of diplomatic missions abroad, is launching a series of round tables aimed at promoting the key initiatives of Elbasy to ensure and preserve interfaith dialogue, develop a unique international platform – the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at the global level.

In total, it is planned to conduct 13 round tables (Armenia, Hungary, Germany, India, Iran, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Czech Republic and Switzerland), in which members of the Secretariat and the Congress, local religious leaders, leading experts, political and public figures, as well as progressive speakers from among the world's most authoritative research institutes, analytical think tanks, higher educational institutions, international organizations and representatives of the world's leading media.

On the eve of the XIX meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress, it is planned to hold 5 round tables in Mumbai, Islamabad, Geneva, Prague, Riyadh.

Additional information about the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and its institutions is available on the website of the N. Nazarbayev Center: http://religions-congress.org.

 

1. NAZARBAYEV CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT OF INTERFAITH AND INTERCIVILIZATION DIALOGUE

General information. The idea of creating the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue was initiated by the participants of the VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in October 2018.

On April 25, 2019, by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 226, the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilizational Dialogue was established.

Key areas of the Center's activity:

• Promotion at the international level of the initiatives of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N. Nazarbayev to establish, preserve, develop and ensure interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue.
• Popularization of ideas and decisions of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
• Analysis of the religious situation in the world.
• Activation and elaboration of new initiatives to promote international dialogue.
• Ensuring the organization of a comprehensive examination of objects of religious expertise.

Goals and objectives of the Center:

• Preparation, organization and holding of the convocation of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and meetings of its institutions - the Council of Religious Leaders, the Secretariat of the Congress and the Working Group of the Secretariat.
• Interaction with international structures (organizations, centers, assemblies).
• Conclusion of memoranda and agreements on cooperation on issues of intercivilizational, interreligious and interfaith dialogue.
• Promotion in the international arena of a unique Kazakhstani model of interfaith dialogue at the global level.
• Organization and participation in international, republican and regional events on topical issues of religions, interfaith and intercivilizational dialogue.
• Providing, on a systematic basis, interaction with domestic and foreign religious associations, their spiritual leaders.
• Assistance to state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the implementation of state policy in the field of religions.
• Monitoring of the state and dynamics of the development of the religious situation in Kazakhstan and the world.
• Implementation of initiatives to establish dialogue, convergence of religious cultures, civilizations and confessions.
• Monitoring of foreign and domestic media on religious topics.

The strategic block of the Center's work is devoted to the analytical direction. Since May 26, 2020, the Institute for the Analysis of the Religious Situation and Religious Expertise has been established at the Center.

The Institute regularly analyzes the religious situation in the world. Expert and analytical materials cover a wide range of research issues on topical topics (among them, religious trends in the world in the field of intercivilizational and interfaith development; study of the international experience of institutions, dialogue platforms with a similar specificity of work, such as the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions; religious map the world for 2019-2020; foreign experience in the legal regulation of the construction of religious buildings, issues of religion and social responsibility of religious leaders, youth, etc.).

In addition, the Center hosts the Museum of Peace and Reconciliation, which was opened on October 10, 2018 as part of the VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

The purpose of the Museum is to preserve and popularize the historical and cultural heritage of the people of Kazakhstan and the modern experience of interstate and intercivilizational interaction for a constructive solution to the problems of mankind by creating an innovative museum complex that meets modern trends in the development of world museum centers.

Partners of the Center. The Centre’s priority in promoting and popularizing the ideas of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at the global level is interaction with similar international actors.

The Centre was presented to leading religious organizations and international actors, including the Vatican, the United States of America, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Belgium, Austria, Poland, India, Pakistan.

Currently, the Center has signed a number of Memoranda of Cooperation and Understanding with the Institute for the Study of Islam of the International Islamic University of Islamabad, the International Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, the International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See (Vatican), Nazarbayev University, Baku International Center for Interfaith and Intercivilizational Cooperation (BCIC), Sharjah University (UAE), UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty, Center for Islamic Civilization under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan named after M.Esbulatov, Nur-Mubarak Egyptian University of Islamic Culture, Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov, Oman online newspaper «Asdaa Oman», Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abay, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, JSC «Khabar» Agency» and the UN Alliance of Civilizations signed a partnership agreement.

Additional information about N. Nazarbayev Center on the official pages in social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram channel and on the corporate website http://religions-congress.org.