Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

I have accepted the invitation to participate in the work of this Forum with pleasure because throughout history this turbulent area has witnessed clashes between civilizations and cultures rather than dialogue, which is our present goal, and which we want, and intend to promote in future.

In South-East Europe, the region encompassing my country, religion- as a constituent element of culture and one of the markers of civilization - has been acting throughout history as a watershed, a crucial factor in the shaping of national awareness and nations and thereby in the shaping of national states later on. Here, as elsewhere in Europe, religious wars have been waged. And although religions do not preach war and violence but bear the message of the Good, we cannot ignore the fact that religious feelings and religious affiliation have frequently been instrumentalzed and served as a reason for and a spur to violence and conflict. 

Earlier in history as well as during the recent wars and conflicts in the region religious, cultural and civilizational diversities have often been used as an instrument of violence and policies aiming at destruction, war, aggression and territorial expansion. 

This Forum has gathered people representing science, culture and international organizations as well as responsible political leaders of the countries of South-East Europe. It is up to us to firmly support and promote with determination, and not just out of mere courtesy, dialogue among our cultures with a similar but often quite different cultural and civilizational heritage. That is to say, not only a dialogue taking place here and now, but dialogue as a continuous process, a conversation and a discussion contributing to the stability and permanent peace and cooperation in the region, and thereby in the whole continent. 

We must be aware be that in this European region, as well as elsewhere in the world, the dissolution of former closed political and civilizational formations has been paralleled by the creation of new entities: national and ethnic, economic, cultural and linguistic. They have all made an effort to establish and strengthen their own identity. The new entities have had the wish and the will to govern themselves, to make use of their own knowledge and abilities and join the contemporary globalization processes with a new, clearly defined identity. 

The fate and the success of the new Europe and the European Union will depend on how relations among countries are arranged and on how the countries and nations that have for a long time been seen as 'the outskirts of Europe' are integrated in the European Union.

I depart from the position that cultural and civilizational diversity are always manifested as an individual and intimate experience as well and that they are difficult to fit into some firm and strict juridical context. Therefore, I appeal that every cultural and civilizational entity be granted the right to self-definition and self-identification before the whole international community. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I consider the following three elements to be crucial for a true dialogue among civilizations: tolerance, ecumenism and human rights.

First, tolerance. In my opinion the role of all of us gathered here is to contribute jointly and individually to the elimination of all forms of social intolerance and discrimination based on cultural and civilizational differences. I plead in favor of respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of all our cultures, of the varied forms and ways of their realization. 

I advocate tolerance based on knowledge, openness, communication and freedom of thought, freedom of consciousness and ideas. Tolerance as harmony in diversity. 

I consider tolerance to be not only our moral obligation but also our political and legal requirement.

Tolerance is a virtue that makes life and peace possible and contributes to the replacement of 'the culture of war' with 'the culture of peace and dialogue'.

Tolerance means accepting the fact that human beings have the right to live in peace and be what they really are, irrespective of their differences in appearance, conditions, speech, behavior and values. 

The second element ecumenism: In developing dialogue among civilizations and cultures ecumenism is of special importance - as a form of active search for cooperation and togetherness; ecumenism -as an endeavor to get closer to different cultures, to all people. 

Ecumenism contributes to a closer acquaintance and better understanding among people of different beliefs, thus making a major contribution to the world peace. Dialogue among civilizations and cultures through tolerance and ecumenism should be considered as our joint hope for a common future of the world. 

However, this dialogue must tackle the dangers of continuous growth and concentration of power and wealth in the hands of some people and at the expense of others; it must consider the danger of environmental and nuclear destruction, increased armament, terrorism, as well as the issue of human rights and others. 

Human rights then, as the third element: In this region cultural and civilizational dialogue implies also a dialogue about the protection of human rights, including the right to life, the right to self-determination and cultural identity, minority rights, the right to participate in decision-making within the community, the right to a dissenting opinion, religious freedom, and individual dignity. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

In the end I wish to express my personal appreciation of the fact that the Draft of the new 'Constitution for Europe' anticipates Europe as a continent that is open to cultural dialogue, education and social progress. 

I am convinced that the honourable members of the European Union will accept the Draft text, which states that the people of Europe are proud of their national identities and histories, but are also determined to overcome old divisions and create a common future 'unified in diversity'.

Dear friends,

We live in different societies, different cultures and different geographical conditions; our horizons may sometimes differ, but we all live under the same sky.

Thank you.