A tripartite initiative on protecting holy sites
Egypt-Regional, Religion, 5/1/2001

"The current head of the UN General Assembly will meet Monday with Ambassadors of Egypt, Austria and Hungary for discussions on an initiative floated by the three countries on protecting holy places all over the world," Egypt's Ambassador to the World Organization Ahmed Abul-Gheit said late Saturday.

"The three countries, in coordination with several African, Asian, Islamic and European states plan to forward a draft resolution to the UN to reaffirm international commitments towards the protection of places of worship and human rights agreements," Abul-Gheit added.

Abul-Gheit said that the draft calls for respecting religious freedom discarding violence and promoting tolerance, solidarity, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

The draft resolution will also urge UN member states, its specialized agencies and the NGOs to pool efforts to fulfill these aims.

The Egyptian envoy to the UN expressed deep concern over Israeli threats to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's Third Holiest Site, and other Muslim and Christian places.

Abul-Gheit accused Israel of violating agreements and human rights conventions.

"The world community cannot ignore the calls for help made by the Palestinian people who are living under inhuman conditions," he said.

Palestinian people have been the target,for more than seven months, of a brutal Israeli crackdown.

"The draft resolution on protecting religious sanctities and promoting understanding and dialogue assumes particular importance in view of the fact that our world, which is culturally rich, is keen to adopt a new and intellectual, cultural and religious creeds," he said.

Previous Stories:
  Buraq Wall an Islamic endowment   (2/22/2001)
  Mubarak calls on Islamic World to overcome technological illiteracy   (6/12/2000)
  Tantawi, Shenuda take part in a religious dialogue at Vatican   (6/14/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search