Diverse cultures and faiths should be respected: Arroyo

PHILIPPINES: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said here Wednesday that it's important to respect diverse cultures and faiths so as to achieve our "common desire" of peace and development

"Interfaith and intercultural dialogue is a foundation that creates improved awareness of our common values. The next step to this awareness is real cooperation," Arroyo said in a keynote speech before the 125 delegates attending the three-day meeting of Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMMM) here.

Arroyo noted that we live in a world of diverse cultures and faiths, and it's important for us to respect and tolerate these differences. Only then can we talk and achieve our "common desire" of peace and development. She cited as an example the Philippine government's efforts to promote peace in Mindanao. Instead of depending on military solutions, the government has conducted peace talks and implemented community development projects.

"Our challenge is to redeem that true meaning of our respective faiths so we can bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world," Arroyo said.

"We want peace not tomorrow, but today, in our lifetime. We can achieve this peace in our lifetime. We can achieve this by practicing it by mutual respect and understanding toward one another," Philippine Foreign Secretary and SNAMMM Chairman Alberto Romulo said.

In his video speech, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that peace, development and human rights depend on mutual understanding and respect. And while NAM member countries have been successful "in bridging differences, we need to do more, we need to reject extremism."

"Mutual understanding can be a foundation of a better future and peaceful coexistence," he said. Manila, Xinhua