” “"On March 25th, we will sign an official document to reassert our values and outline a roadmap for the future": Hans-Gert Poettering, president of Strasbourg Parliament, states in his interview with SIR: "In the world we are living in, there are new challenges, such as climate change, terrorism, migration, globalisation, that can only be faced by the Europeans if they join forces. This is what the Declaration should state". Poettering will attend the official celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the EU, due in Rome over the next few days. On Saturday and Sunday, he will take part in the informal summit of the 27 member states in Berlin. As to the believers’ contribution to the building of a united Europe, he says: "The founding fathers, such as Robert Schuman, clearly took inspiration from Christianity. Such an heritage has definitely affected the history of Europe, and we find its essence in the Constitutional Charter". As to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, he specifies: "Over the last few years, I have visited quite a few Arab countries and I have come to believe that this dialogue is a must. We want cooperation, partnership and friendship, and dialogue must be based on tolerance and truth: to me this means respect of the others’ beliefs, though retaining one’s identity and thus live together in peace".” ” ” “
