I do not have a prepared statement but I want to say that I guess that in this Forum I represent I represent Eurasia, given the geopolitical location of my country.

I would like to join others in congratulating you, Mr. Secretary, and all of us in launching this Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace. We were privileged to be among the founding members of this initiative.

I do remember that it started two years ago, when the Philippines first tabled the resolution on interfaith cooperation at the General Assembly, there were lots of suspicion and we ended up with only five co-sponsors, and my country among them. Then we had the June Conference last year under the chairmanship of Secretary Romulo, which became a big success and then we, as you already mentioned in your introductory address, Mr. Secretary, had this important meeting before the Summit in September of the sixteen Heads of State and Governments and we strongly believed that this particular meeting helped us in searching for a concrete paragraph for inclusion in the Outcome Document of the Summit referring to the interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

As you mentioned as well in your statement that there is a number of important initiatives that we have, starting from the initiative of Dialogue among Civilizations of Iran and the Alliance of Civilizations of Turkey and Spain, the initiative on Enlightened Moderation of Pakistan and many other initiatives which are important and I think that all these initiatives and we must say complement each other.

Kazakhstan on its part also has an initiative. This initiative is the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The First Congress took place two years ago in our country and we are in the preparation process for the Second Congress that will take place between 12 and 14 of September this year. The main topic of this Congress of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions is - “Religion, society and the international security.”

I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. Secretary, to reiterate the invitation that has been extended to your Excellency a while ago to participate in this Congress.

Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of us in launching this important Forum. I wish all the success in our noble endeavors.