Finland To Push Dialogue On Islam
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Original Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Via: DailyStar.com.lb
Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Helsinki--Finland on Tuesday called on the European Union to talk to moderate Muslims following the global row over Prophet Mohammad cartoons as the Nordic country, which takes over the EU Presidency in July, hosted a seminar on Europe and the Muslim World.

"The EU should seek to engage itself in a dialogue with mainstream Muslims both Internationally as well as nationally," Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja told a Helsinki Conference entitled, "Building Dialogue: Beyond The Cartoons."

"If we wish our voice to be heard by the Muslims we will have to listen to Muslims abroad as well as domestically," Tuomioja said.

Tuomioja said he planned to promote European-Muslim dialogue during Finland's EU Presidency, and would involve "governments and intergovernmental bodies, the civil society, religious and spiritual leaders as well as intellectuals."

"The cartoon crisis has touched ordinary people around the world. It is not only to them, but with them we should be talking," he stressed.

Tuomioja said several meetings between European and Muslim leaders were scheduled to take place during the Finnish EU Presidency.

Also attending Tuesday's seminar, organized by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, were German MP Lale Akgun and Abdul-Latif Arabiat of the Jordanian Islamic Action Front. Spanish Ambassador to Finland Maximo Cajal and Turkish Ambassador Ali Yakital were also on hand, among others.

After it takes the reins of the EU Presidency, Finland is planning on hosting an Asia-Europe summit in September, as well as a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Euromed region (25 EU states and 10 mainly Muslim Mediterranean-rim states) in Tampere on November 27-28.

An Interim Forum, entitled "Religions In A Pluralist World: Unity And Diversity"
will also be organized in Espoo, near Helsinki.

Finland has actually encouraged dialogue between antagonists over the cartoon row.

At the height of the crisis a month ago, Tuomioja wrote to Arabic newspapers asking them for moderation and mutual understanding.