Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik had a meeting with Professor Anas Schakfeh, President of the Islamic Faith Community in Austria, on Tuesday, 7 February. In light of the recent escalation in several countries concerning the publication of cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed, they issued an urgent appeal to the public to renounce violence and return to dialogue.
The Foreign Minister acknowledged the important role of Professor Schakfeh and the Islamic Faith Community in Austria in the efforts to secure calm and reconciliation. “It is now important to stand together and to make visible our ongoing dialogue, which has proved its worth in practice. We trust in the power of dialogue", she declared. Professor Schakfeh said that the readiness to engage in dialogue had proved worthwhile: "We urge all parties to make use of this form of cooperation too".
Plassnik and Schakfeh discussed confidence-building measures that could help reduce tension and contribute to mutual understanding in this difficult international situation. In this context, the preparations for the conference of European imams being organised by the Islamic Faith Community in Vienna on 7 April were also discussed. This conference has the aim of promoting dialogue between the faith communities and cultures.
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