wfn.org | MECC Organizes Dialogue Encounter With Dr. Khatami

[mecc <mecc@cyberia.net.lb>]

MECC Organizes an Open Encounter for Dialogue with Hijat Al Islam Dr.
Mohamad Khatami, Former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

The open encounter was held on December 2, 2005, hosted by the Cultural
Movement in Antelias, Lebanon. Over 200 persons from Christian and Muslim
religious and intellectual circles attended the event.

General Secretary of the Cultural Movement, Mr. Georges Abi Saleh, opened
the encounter welcoming former president Khatami, MECC General Secretary,
Mr. Guirgis Saleh, and the audience. He then underlined Dr. Khatami¹s
longstanding role in promoting religious and cultural dialogue, and
democracy.

Mr. Saleh in turn welcomed Dr. Khatami highlighting his faith in the one
God, his efforts to reconcile faith with the present time, mind with heart,
and the forgiving Islam with democracy. He is the faithful who has built
bridges between the monotheistic Christianity and Islam and has encouraged
and convened the dialogue of civilizations and cultures.

In his intervention, Dr. Khatami questioned the world we live in and the
message of religion to this world. He focused on the development of the
world from local to global with increased communication, information and
networking. Despite increased communication and the development of
information technology, Dr. Khatami underlined that this has not helped in
enhancing understanding, love and peace between people,  quoting from the
Qoran ³They forgot God and God made them forget themselves².

He concluded that through understanding, forgiveness and vision, it is
possible to give back  to religions their essence, despite the conflicts
between them. For more information, kindly contact MECC General Secretary,
Mr. Guirgis Saleh at: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

Middle East Council of Churches
Office of International Ecumenical Relations
P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon

Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

+961-1-353-938
http://www.mec-churches.org/