Respect and coexistence” “

The satirical cartoons portraying the prophet Mahomet that have aroused vehement reactions through much of the Islamic world have raised the question about whether it is appropriate to make religion an object of satire. Various initiatives have been taken all over Europe to moderate the belligerent tones of the clash of civilizations heard in various continents: they include a round table held in Austria by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic Wolfgang Schüssel on 13 February; the meeting was attended by various exponents of the religions present in the country, including Cardinal Christoph Schönborn , President of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference and archbishop of Vienna, the Orthodox Metropolitan Michael Staikos , the Evangelical bishop Herwig Sturm , the president of the Islamic community Anas Schakfeh , the chief rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg and Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik . All the participants called for dialogue as the indispensable condition for peaceful co-existence between peoples of different faiths and ideologies. We present a brief summary of the main themes discussed at the meeting. “THE COEXISTENCE OF RELIGIONS IS POSSIBLE”. That’s the view expressed by Cardinal Schönborn at the end of the meeting held in the Austrian capital by the office of the Federal Chancellor. Speaking to journalists, the participants at the meeting declared that only thanks to dialogue and measures that build trust will it be possible to overcome the current conflict triggered by the caricatures of Mahomet. The archbishop of Vienna expressed concern that many Austrians already consider the current situation a “clash of cultures”. We need, he said, to “counter this situation” “by imposing the way of dialogue and coexistence. We need to encourage the Austrians and show them that the way of reconciliation and coexistence is possible”. Orthodox Metropolitan Staikos and Evangelical Bishop Sturm described the practice of dialogue in Austria, both at the ecumenical and interfaith level. Both agreed that “the partner in dialogue should be considered not as a burden but as an enrichment”. Staikos and Sturm also placed the emphasis on the fact that such dialogue is “one of the great challenges posed by the growing social pluralism in Europe”. the example of Austria. Federal Chancellor Schüssel called “exemplary” the practice of dialogue of the religions present in Austria and announced his own particular commitment to fostering such dialogue also at the European level during the Austrian Presidency of the European Council in the first half of 2006: “As far as this aspect is concerned”, he declared, “Europe can learn from Austria”. The Chancellor condemned the caricatures of the Holocaust that have appeared in some Iranian papers in retaliation against the cartoons published in Denmark. At the same time he asked for “greater sensibility to religions and to religious symbols. Recourse to violence of any kind and the offensive treatment of religious symbols must be condemned”, he warned, “as also the violation of taboos, such as the kind attempted in recent days with the caricatures of the Holocaust. The sensitivities of Jews, Christians and Muslims must be taken with equal seriousness”, he declared. Schüssel rejected the charge that the EU reacted belatedly to the protests in some countries with an Islamic minority: “The EU has taken all the necessary measures, he added. EUROPEAN IMAMS IN conference. “Exaggerated protests”: that’s the view of Anas Schakfeh on some parts of the Islamic world. At the same time the professor asked for serious dialogue between cultures and religions. “The current conflict will undoubtedly be settled shortly; nonetheless, dialogue must be promoted even more actively”. Chief rabbi Eisenberg warned that “press freedom, which no one places in doubt, must also be accompanied by a particular degree of responsibility”. The president of the Islamic community and Austrian Foreign Minister Plassnik announced a European conference of Imams, to be held in Vienna on 7 April; its aim is to discuss questions relating to the dialogue between various cultures and religions. The meeting will be attended by the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso. The Austrian Foreign Ministry is also planning another international conference on the question in May. If the details, explained Plassnik, have still to be finalised, the proposed objective is certain: the aim of such conferences within the EU – but also beyond the frontiers of the EU – is to foster dialogue in such a way that different cultures may be transformed into real coexistence. “We need a trustful and respectful coexistence as a counterweight to the much bruited ‘clash of civilizations'”.