Luxembourg hosts Media, Beliefs and Religions conference
Luxembourg, November 30 (AZERTAC). Luxembourg has hosted Media, Beliefs and Religions: the 2011 Council of Europe Exchange on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, organised by the Committee of Ministers.
The event focused on several themes, including “the role of the media in fostering intercultural dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding: freedom of expression of the media and respect towards cultural and religious diversity”, “Expression in the media of society’s religious and non-religious convictions - The respective roles of traditional and new media”; “Place, image and discourse of women with religious and non religious convictions in the media”; “Building bridges based on common values - The role of education to the media and to religious and non-religious convictions (respective contributions)”.
The event gathered representatives of religious communities and non-religious convictions, mainstream media professionals as well as experts, academics and representatives of international organisations and NGOs.
The two-day conference analysed priorities of the Council of Europe political agenda, such as diversity in today’s Europe, including the gender dimension, and the role of traditional and new media in democratic societies.
Moreover, the Exchange underlined the balance Europe needs to strike at the crossroads of fundamental rights: freedom of expression and religious freedom, including the right not to be subject to violence, hatred or discrimination on the grounds of one’s religion.
“Religion can be a powerful and positive force for social cohesion, allowing communities of different origins to work for the common good, in line with their belief,” said Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, during his opening speech at the Abbaye de Neumunster in Luxembourg.
During a joint press-conference, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland also presented the report “Living Together - Combining diversity and freedom in 21st century Europe” by the Group of Eminent Persons with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, and PACE Luxembourg member, Anne Brasseur.
At the end of the press-conference, Jagland and Asselborn signed a treaty establishing the Cultural Routes Enlarged Partial Agreement (EPA) headquarters in Luxembourg.
Azerbaijan`s delegation at the event included head of the country`s permanent mission to the Council of Europe Arif Mammadov, as well as employees of Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AZERTAC) Vugar Seyidov and Parvana Garayeva.
Seyidov made remarks at the event on the role of social media in the modern society.
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