Islam-Christian Dialogue Must Be Held With Open Mind, Mutual Respect - (Bernama)

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source: Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA
URL:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=200541


KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said any dialogue on the Islamic and Christian West civilisations must
be approached with an open mind and mutual respect to ensure a better understanding of each other.

"(Continuing) dialogue is important but our attitude to the dialogue is even more important," he said at the Asia Media Summit 2006, here Monday in response
to a question from a participant on how to strengthen the dialogue between the two civilisations.

Abdullah, who earlier delivered a keynote address at the summit, said the parties concerned in the dialogue must be patient, tolerant and ready to listen
to each other.

"Go to the dialogue with open minds and hear what others will say with an open mind. Approach the discussion with mutual respect. To make all kinds of accusation
will create more problems," he told more than 400 media professionals from 68 countries attending the 3-day summit.

For instance, he said, the West did not anticipate the anger among Muslims after newspapers in the West published caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.

He said the publication of the caricatures was defended as freedom of the press but it was actually lack of understanding.

"If one does not have the same belief as the other, at least what one should do is to respect the beliefs of others," he said.

However, Abdullah felt that Islam and the Christian West have far more things in common than differences, and should work on the common basis.

Muslim countries, too, have problems of their own creation and should not be pointing fingers at others as the main cause of their problems, he said.

"We are known for our great growth of civilisation. We can do that again. It is not right to assume everything wrong with us is from the West," he said.
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