The CEMOFPSC organized in Rome two roundtables devoted to the situation of minorities, and to the dialogue through projects with an interreligious nature in the Middle East

The Roundtable on “Cultural consequences of ethnic and religious conflict: The situation of minorities in the Mediterranean” was organized on November 26 at the Embassy of Spain before the Holy See.

The event was aimed at raising reflection and dialogue within the participants on the cultural consequences of ethnic and religious conflicts, analyzing the situation of unprotected and vulnerable minorities, both Christian, and other religious traditions, and, as consequence, of the brutal persecution in the Mediterranean region and other countries.

The opening speech and presentation ceremony was led by Mr. Eduardo Gutiérrez Sáenz de Buruaga, Ambassador of Spain before the Holy See, Mgr. François Eid, Procurator of the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch (Lebanon), and Ms. Jumana Trad, President of the FPSC.

After that, the roundtable started, with interventions of Mr. Raul Sandoval, member of the advisory body of the Ministry of Interior in Spain, Mr. Roberto Paglialonga, Secretary of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”, and Prof. Ilaria Morali, Consultant of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The event was moderated by Mr. Matteo Matzuzzi, journalist of IL FOGLIO, followed by a debate among the attendees.

The Roundtable on “New horizons of dialogue in the Middle East through social projects with an interreligious nature” was organized on 27 November in the Sala Aldo Moro, at the Congress of Deputies in the Montecitorio Palace.

This roundtable was aimed at facing the issues related to the role and the development of civil society in the Middle East, and how social projects with an interreligious nature highlights the fact that civil society is civil society is very well connected not only with beneficiaries, but with suppliers, donors and governmental decision makers, often being one step ahead them dealing with these themes.

A welcome speech and presentation was made by Ms. Paola Binetti, President of the Ethics and Democracy Association, and Ms. Jumana Trad, President of the Foundation of Social Promotion of Culture.

The session was opened by Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini, President of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee (Italy), and Mr. Sargis Ghazaryan, Ambassador of Armenia.

After that, the roundtable on the “New horizons of the Middle East dialogue through social projects with an interreligious character” started, with interventions of Ms. Marina Sereni, Vice President of the Congress of Deputies (Italy), Mr. Pierre Issa, Founder and President of Arcenciel (Lebanon), Ms. Pascale Warda, President of the Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and former Minister for Migration and Displacement (Iraq), and Ms. Jumana Trad, President of the FPSC. The event was moderated by the journalist Mr. Marco Tosatti.
 
In the final part of this talk, it was taken the chance to present the documentary “Walking next to the wall”  through the words and presence of its author, the journalist Mr. Fernando de Haro.

After that, it was given time to a public discussion session that was ended by a closing speech of Mr. Lapo Pistelli, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.