This week, representatives of the Oslo Center are in Iran to organize an interreligious dialogue between 40 religious and political leaders. “Recently, it became known that Israel had asked permission from the USA to bomb Iran, but met with a no. Today’s line of conflict and war rhetoric is not constructive, and may in the worst case lead to catastrophe. It is imperative to establish a better dialogue between the Islamic World and the West before an armed conflict develops, says the president of the Oslo Center, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik.

“The aggressive rhetoric creates fertile ground for enemy images, stereotypes and generalizations. Tensions must be reduced so that we will be spared an armed conflict. The consequences of that will be incalculable, but there is little doubt that the results will be far-reaching and potentially catastrophic”, says Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, President of the Oslo Center for peace and human rights.

The Oslo Center strives to further dialogue between the so-called Islamic World and the West in order to combat enemy images and build bridges of trust between peoples with different cultural and religious background.

“Dialogue about constructive solutions are mandatory in order to prevent increased violence end conflict. Increased understanding of the opinions of other religions and cultures is important for the building of alliances in the struggle for peace and human rights. It is important to include political decision makers in this endeavour, so that the impact be as great as possible”, Bondevik says.

October 12 – 14, 40 former political leaders, religious leaders and university graduates will meet for a conference in Teheran on the role of religion in the modern world. They will discuss how religious and political leaders can cooperate in furthering peace and respect for human rights, and further diversity and peaceful coexistence in today’s world. An initiative will be made for a joint alliance to combat violence, intolerance and extremism.

The participants are, among others, Kofi Annan, Romano Prodi, Lionel Jospin, bishop John Bryson Chane in Washington and bishop Helga Byfyglien from Norway. The conference is part of the Oslo Center’s cooperation with former president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, and his Foundation for Dialogue between civilisations. The Club de Madrid is also one of the co-organizers.