October 2009

Interreligious Council of Albania inaugurated

The Interreligious Council (IRC) of Albania was inaugurated October 22 in the national capital Tirana, under the auspices of Albania's president, Professor Dr. Bamir Topi.

In his opening address, President Topi described interreligious dialogue as "the face of tolerance" and expressed appreciation for the council's aim of building religious tolerance, saying, "I wholeheartedly support the work of the interreligious council, both personally and as president."

The council's founders include Archbishop Anastasios, head of the Orthodox Church in Albania; H.E. Selim Muca, the leader of the country's Muslim community; Mons. Rrok Mirdita, president of the Bishops Conference of Albania; and Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi, head of the Bektashi world headquarters.

As one of the council's founders as well as a member of the European Council of Religious Leaders, Archbishop Anastasios said, "Only through the peaceful coexistence of the religious communities can we prosper." He expressed hope that the Albania's religious communities would speak in prophetic voices for the true development of religious tolerance.

The founding of IRC of Albania, the country's first interreligious organization representing all the nation's major religious communities, was facilitated by many years of support by the European Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace.

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