ASTANA - Politicians and civil society around the world were Wednesday urged to “counteract” the manipulation of religions or religious differences for political ends to preserve the unity of society at an international conference on religion organised by the Kazakhstan government.

“Politicians, public figures, scientists, the mass media and the global community should demonstrate greater moral and spiritual strength and genuine solidarity in pursuing just solutions to the economic, financial, social and environmental problems plaguing the globalised world,” said an appeal issued by the third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions here that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev inaugurated here Wednesday.

Observers said the language of the appeal was significant as it was a call for action against Muslim fundamentalist groups that were spreading terror in various parts of the world.

The appeal called for continuous support and facilitation of the efforts of religious leaders and organizations “towards genuine inter-religious dialogue and to address the urgent problems of humanity so as to find proper solutions, thereby recognizing the positive role that religions can play and should play in society”.

All stake holders should “promote comprehension of the specific character of each religion and culture and support dialogue among religions and civilizations to enhance mutual understanding and respect through education,” the appeal maintained.

The participants at the Congress also “stated unambiguously” their “opposition to ethnic and religious enmity and hatred while affirming that peaceful coexistence of people of different ethnic origins and religious affiliations is an important basis for human security.

At a plenary earlier in the day, speakers pointed out that religious leaders were trusted and listened to and they should leverage this advantage to change what is wrong with the world.

Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Bondevier summed it up most succinctly: “Religious leaders have changed minds, have changed policies and have even changed the world.”

He was speaking at the plenary on “The role of religious leaders in building peace based on tolerance, mutual respect and cooperation” at the Congress.

“As trusted members of society, religious leaders are in a position to act. Given their unique position, they can make a difference in the areas of climate change and HIV/AIDS,” Bondevier maintained, adding he was speaking as a preacher and not as a former minister.

“Be it climate change or combating HIV/AIDS, religious leaders can promote action from the grassroots to the very top,” he added. In this context, he noted that some 450 imams in Uganda were delivering powerful messages against HIV/AIDS after Friday

prayers.

Inaugurating the Congress, Nazarbayev said over the past six years it had played a significant role in promoting harmony and removing distrust among the world’s religtions.

“There is much that has been achieved. There is much more that needs to be done. It is up to us and the sincerity we display,” the president maintained.

According to Mehdi Mustafavi, the advisor to the Iranian president, “religious leaders should pay more attention to resolving the world’s problems. This is because people believe religious leaders more (than politicians).

Noting that there was “much commonality” between religions, Shlomo Amar, Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi said: “It lies in out hands to try and understand what creates differences between religions and to try and reduce these to the extent possible.

Metropolitan Emmannuel of Constantinople said the Congress “provides a golden opportunity to tell the whole world that we are prepared to accept our responsibilities and help in the resolution of critical issues.”

According to Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin, Al-Turki, the secretary general of the Muslim World League, the goal of religious leaders should be to protect religious institutions “and preserve them from falling prey or (becoming) tools in the hands of unscrupulous people.