US House of Representatives adopted Resolution in support of Congress of World and Traditional Religions' Leaders

The Resolution is sponsored by Congressman by Eni Faleomavaega, the co-sponsors are also 27 members of the House of Representatives, Kazinform refers to the press service of the Kazakh MFA.

It should be noted that the Resolution was submitted for consideration on June 11, 2009, but it was not approved as a consequence of strong opposition and lobbying from the side of human rights NGOs. The debates lasted till July 28, a press release of the Foreign Office reads.

However, in the current situation leader of the Republicans in the Foreign Affairs Committee  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen called her colleagues to support the Resolution.

The text of the Resolution reads:

Commending the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding.

Whereas religious leaders can be a decisive factor in maintaining peace and security in the world;

Whereas a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was established in 2003;

Whereas the Congress is based on the premise that religion can be an important arbiter for resolving political differences and conflicts;

Whereas the purpose of the Congress is to advance tolerance, development, and security;

Whereas the Congress provides a forum for improving understanding and mutual cooperation among religious communities from around the world;

Whereas the Congress considers interfaith dialogue one of the most important instruments for the maintenance of peace and harmony among peoples and nations;

Whereas the Congress regularly holds forums that address, among other issues, religious freedom, inter-religious dialogue, and the role of religious leaders in strengthening global security;

Whereas the world's major religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Taoism are represented in the Congress;

Whereas religious leaders representing more than 26 nations, including Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Armenia, South Korea, China, India, Thailand, the United States, Switzerland, France, Japan, and the Holy See, participate in the Congress;

Whereas a Secretariat of the Congress was established by the leaders and representatives of the world and traditional religions in 2003 as a permanent body of the interfaith dialogue;

Whereas the Secretariat of the Congress adopted resolutions to convene the second and third Congress in 2006 and 2009; and

Whereas the third Congress will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 1-2, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) commends the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding;

(2) supports freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries; and

(3) recognizes Kazakhstan for initiating the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and for having been selected by the Secretariat to host the second and third Congress.