States, international organizations, and religious communities need to embrace a common approach based on virtue in such a period. It will only be possible through political and religious mutual understanding as well as cooperation and peace-making efforts among different countries and people. Countries as well as the world and traditional religions can achieve success only through spiritual friendship, regardless of the complexity of the situation.
Without spirituality and commitment to moral principles, it is impossible to establish order on the global scale. We are proud to say that representatives of several nationalities and ethnic groups live peacefully in Kazakhstan. This is one of the brightest achievements of our country during the years of independence. If we take a brief look into history, we can observe that our ancestors, despite facing significant challenges, were able to maintain the unwavering unity of our country.
The rich spiritual culture of our people, with its deep historical roots, served as the foundation for making important state decisions in the early days of our independence.
Today, Kazakhstan has managed to create a civilized mechanism to preserve national unity on the path of democratic development.
“We should foster a culture of civilized dialogue and mutual respect. Effective use of the country's historical heritage and cultural potential is a crucial element in consolidating society and strengthening national identity. In this regard, Kazakhstan has many opportunities to position itself favorably in the international arena," President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted in his State of the Nation Address to the people.
Kazakhstan is taking a confident step into the future through spiritual revival. The role of our state in promoting public spiritual harmony is to maintain a balanced relationship between secular and religious spirituality. It also aims to preserve and strengthen the values of modern civilization.
Religion holds a significant place in human life. It plays a crucial role in the process of revitalization and exhibits great diversity. Religion gives meaning to human life and provides moral and spiritual education.
Leaders of religious communities play a special role in maintaining inter-ethnic and interfaith peace and harmony. Religious leaders can have a great influence in communicating decisions and concrete initiatives to their communities through dialogue.
With this goal in mind, Kazakhstan presented one of the most significant peacekeeping initiatives – the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. It has allowed Kazakhstan to become a platform for peaceful inter-civilizational dialogue. The forum offers an opportunity for religious leaders and politicians to discuss how to resolve international conflicts, address global threats, and overcome hatred and intolerance.
Established in 2003 as a direct response to the increase in interfaith disagreements and extremism following the September 11 terrorist attack in the United States, the forum has enhanced interfaith dialogue by bringing together religious leaders. Through the activities of this institute, Kazakhstan is promoting its national values to the global community and showcasing an example of spiritual unity.
In his published article in the Israeli “Jerusalem Post,” President Tokayev proudly stated that Kazakhstan hosted the triennial Congress of Religious Leaders in Kazakhstan. Holding of the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan in September 2022 as well as the participation of esteemed guests serve as a clear testament to Kazakhstan’s reputation within the international community. It also reflects the high level of trust in President Tokayev and the people of the country.
On October 11, 2023, the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place in Astana. The meeting was chaired by Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress. Participants from more than 20 countries arrived for the session.
As a country that has always prioritized integrity and unity as well as peace and harmony, we believe that humankind can prevent religious and national conflicts by actively following the principles of tolerance and fostering relationships between different ethnic groups and religious beliefs.
*) Bulat Sarsenbayev is Chairman of the Board of the Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Inter-civilizational Dialogue
*) The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the ANTARA News Agency
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