"Not a meeting in which the participants are trying to impose their point of view, but a moment of mutual listening and respect, for the research of a common future." In this way the joint declaration released today by the European Bishops Conference Committee (CCEE) and the Conference of European churches (KEK) is explaining the European Islamo-Christian Conference promoted by the two bodies on the theme "Being European Citizens and Believers. Christians and Muslims as Active Partners in European Societies" which united in Brussels/Malines 45 representatives, both Christian and Muslim, of 16 European nations from 20th to 23rd October. "The conference" we can read in the document whose text is available on the website www.ccee.ch "is not only speaking about a Christian-Muslim dialogue but is also establishing a fraternal and clear dialogue with the adoption of a joint declaration." In this way it is "an example of true and active citizenship." According to Pastor Jean-Arnold de Clermont, the KEK’s president, "if Europe does not want to withdraw into itself it cannot avoid the dialogue with Islam as the Muslim countries cannot do without the dialogue with Europe, the human rights and the independence of politics and religion."
