Vienna, 18 November 2016 – Ambassadors of Latin American and the Caribbean countries to Austria attended a working session at the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) to discuss the potential of interreligious dialogue as a tool for conflict prevention and for strengthening social cohesion around the world. The diplomatic representatives agreed on the need to promote interreligious dialogue to preserve social cohesion in their countries.

KAICIID’s leadership, including Secretary General Faisal Bin Muammar, Deputy Secretary General for External Relations Ambassador Alvaro Albacete, and Director General Fahad Abualnasr hosted the meeting, which took place on 17 November 2016 at the Centre’s headquarters in Vienna and was followed by a reception. The Centre’s Board of Directors and Council of Parties were represented by Bishop Miguel Ayuso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Spain’s Ambassador in Vienna, Alberto Carnero and Mohammed Dahlawi, Director of Dialogue Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Ramon Quiñones Rodriguez, Dominican Republic, as Dean of the GRULAC group, supported the event.

“We are convinced of the power of interreligious dialogue for prevention. Trust can only be built after open and honest dialogue. And without trust, social cohesion, reconciliation and cooperation are not possible,” Secretary General Bin Muammar said. He mentioned KAICIID’s participation at the 5^th Ibero-American Interreligious Forum held recently in Bogota, Colombia, as a basis for future activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The diplomatic representatives were briefed on KAICIID’s work in the Central African Republic, Iraq/Syria, Myanmar and Nigeria. They also learned more about the Centre’s social media training in the Arab world and its multilateral initiative United Against Violence on the Name of Religion, with participation of international organisations, religious leaders and civil society organisations. The diplomats  also received an overview of the interreligious projects undertaken in the Latin American and the Caribbean region by two KAICIID International Fellows, Victoria Pelaez in Guatemala, and by Maria del Milagro Dallacamina, in Argentina.