(Simona Mengascini, SIR correspondent in Cyprus) "Europe has not yet shown its willingness to fully take part at the appointment with history." Attending the Forum of Cyprus "The Civilisation of Peace. Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue" organised by the Sant’Egidio community, the President of the Conference of the European Churches (KEK) Jean-Arnold de Clermont analysed in this way the Old Continent. The Pastor pointed out that Europe is "going on the defensive about immigration instead of considering it as an instrument for joint development," it is not carrying out a "coherent" foreign policy, and "on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it lags behind the United States and its voice goes unheard." As for immigration, Cardinal De Clermont said "we cannot accept that 100,000 people have drowned and are drowning to reach Europe." This must "wake Christians and politicians up." Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, Archbishop of Bordeax, recalled that "the hour of Europe" is also "the hour of ecumenism", as his region experienced divisions and fighting between Christians but also "reconciliation." Not "secondary" in importance is inter-religious dialogue "for the European religious leaders can pursue the defence of Human Rights together," explained Cardinal Clermont.
