DOHA, Feb 15 (NNN-KUNA) — Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Saturday called for ensuring the rights of minorities and communities, protecting joint interests of any group of sects without depriving these rights.
At the US-Islamic World Forum held in Doha, Qatar, she told an attending audience of politicians, businessman and academics on day one of the event, that dialogue is crucial to the exchange of thoughts and the solution to difficult questions in today’s world.
She called on all religions and faiths in the world to cooperate with each other in order to avoid bloodshed and conflict.
She also praised political efforts around the world like the success of the Iraqi provincial elections, and the arrival of the first African American president in the US and his keenness to engage directly with Iran.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih who also made a speech at the forum, talked about the Iraqi issue and its effect on the relationship between the Islamic World and the US.
He said that Iraq is witnessing a tough transitional phase and is faced with many troubles ahead to secure its path of political stability, but that one most not overlook the tremendous development the country has undergone through democracy which he deemed “promising.” The US helped save Iraq from a criminal and dominating political system, he said furthermore.
He also said that security in Iraq has become crucial to its neighbouring countries, and any victory for Al-Qaeda in Iraq poises a threat to all countries in the region.