By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that the high-level meeting on interfaith dialogue, co-sponsored by the Saudi and Spanish Kings and scheduled to take place at the UN headquarters next week, is going to be a “very important” event.
“This is going to be a very important conference. I appreciate and commend the initiative of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for this (conference). We have been discussing this matter very closely,” Ban told reporters in answer to a question after a four-day visit to Asian countries Monday.
Consultations are going “very smoothly,” he noted, adding that many leaders have confirmed that they will take part in the event scheduled for Nov 12-13.
“With this and other initiatives to promote understanding and appreciation among religions and cultures,” he indicated, “the international communtiy will be able to promote more harmony and obviously this will initiate a very good momentum.”
The meeting will be attended by US President George W. Bush, the Kings of Jordan and Bahrain and the presidents of Norway and the Philippines, among others.
UN special envoy for Lebanon Terje Roed-Larsen visited Saudi Arabia Sunday and the Vatican Monday to extend an invitation to the Pope, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.
Earlier Monday, the Kuwaiti government announced that the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will be attending the interfaith dialogue conference.