International
conference
"Religious
Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism
in the European
Integration Process of the Western Balkan"
Luxembourg, May
21st to 24th 2008
Constructing
the economic, cultural
and politic community of the nations and states has been a century long
dream for most Europeans. The most significant realization of that
dream is the project called European Union in which the majority of
Europeans, nations and states sees their better future.
With the
expansion of the EU project
to new countries, the entire endeavour becomes more complex and
challenging. Today Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia,
Montenegro and Serbia are neighbours to state-members of European Union
while Slovenia has become a regular member of this organisation. And of
course there is the complex situation of Kosovo.
Although above
mentioned countries
are not at the present members of European Union (except Slovenia), it
is not possible to imagine the future of this community without them.
They are at the moment in the process of stabilization and association.
Inclusion of these countries into the European Union is an objective
concerning each and every participant of the international system. For
making this possible it is necessary not only to acquire new knowledge
about those states, but to change numerous views and behaviours of the
people who live in them. In favour of this statement goes recent
historic happenings and processes. Lack of proper knowledge
contributed, and is still contributing, to make dialogue(s) necessary
for initiating political, cultural and economic processes in which
ominous tensions of this European sector would be overcame.
The past,
present and future of
Western Balkan countries are not understandable outside the European
frame. European plurality is more complex in them than in any other
European ambience: it is made of numerous ethnical, language and
religious communities who have articulated diverse ethno politics and
ethno religious ideologies. This is why these zones are treasury of
negative and positive experiences. Comprehension of these experiences
is a postulate for resolving and overcoming mentioned duality of
European Union – Western Balkan.
Among the most
important challenges
of understanding and resolving mentioned duality are articulation and
re-articulation of understanding of tolerance in the plural society.
This understanding is not restricted just to religious differences, but
society's religious plurality becomes a more obvious and complex
challenge to every project of European future.
How can it be
possible to accomplish
the European ideal of safe unity in differences? How to protect dignity
of difference in minority, ethnic and religious communities? How to
strengthen attitudes of tolerance and behaviour of each other, and to
be able to see reasons for strengthening of societal virtue and
stability in other and different? How to articulate educational systems
on every level to function in desirable future which is already
anticipated in the project of European Union?
What can the
experience of Western
Balkan countries and nations offer to "Europe" in solving these
questions?
Above mentioned
questions are a
basis on which the organizers of the International Conference
"Religious Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism in the European
Integration Process of the Western Balkan" will form three public
panels and one youth participation workshop-journey.
Objective
The objective
of the international
conference "Religious Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism in the
European Integration Process of the Western Balkan" is to show and
discuss conditions of social, religious and cultural plurality of
Western Balkan in two aspects – from the aspect of members of European
Union and the aspect of Western Balkan countries.
Mentioned
objective would be
realized in three
public debates:
1.
"Religious
traditions and Balkan nationalisms: Lessons that are possible to learn
and messages for the future"
2.
"Dialogue on
tolerance sources in religious traditions of Jews, Christians and
Muslims"
3.
"Challenges of
religious plurality and modern secular solutions" & "Stolac
Cultural Heritage integrated in a European network – a new project?"
Besides those
three public debates,
a one-day-workshop
about "the role of religion and
tolerance for youth in a society between tradition and overture"
would be organized for all youth, students and teachers interested in
participating as responsible, autonomous, open-minded, critic and
tolerant citizens.
Organizers
The organizers
of the international
conference "Religious Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism in the
European Integration Process of the Western Balkan" are:
Hosting organizer:
Luxembourg
Girl
Guides an Boy Scouts Association (Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten
[LGS])
Main
organizer:
International
Forum Bosnia, Sarajevo
Co-organizers:
Commission
luxembourgeoise "Justice et Paix" / "Justitia et Pax"
University
of
Luxembourg
Centre
Culturel
Islamique du Luxembourg
The
Head
organisation of Bosnian Associations in Luxembourg
Promotional
partners:
Agence
luxembourgeoise d'action culturelle
100,7
Social-Cultural Radio
The
international conference meeting
is organized under the patronage of the
Ministry of Religious Affairs
(Ministère des Cultes) of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
acting as main financial supporter.
Program
Wednesday,
21st of May
19.30 - 22.00 h
First
public debate at the Franciscan Monastery
Conference Centre (Maison d'accueil des Franciscaines), 50, avenue
Gaston Diderich, Luxembourg-Belair:
"Religious
traditions and Balkan nationalisms: Lessons that are possible to learn
and messages for the future." The disintegration process of the
former Republic of Yugoslavia will be an issue during this presentation.
Thursday,
22nd of May
20.00 - 22.00 h
Second
public debate at the Grande Salle of the
Château de Wiltz:
"Dialogue
on
tolerance sources in religious traditions of Jews, Christians and
Muslims"
Friday,
23rd of May
19.30 - 22.00 h
Third
public debate at the Franciscan Monastery
Conference Centre (Maison d'accueil des Franciscaines), 50, avenue
Gaston Diderich, Luxembourg-Belair:
19.30 - 20.30 h
"Challenges of religious plurality and
modern secular solutions"
20.30 - 21.30 h
"Stolac Cultural Heritage integrated
in a
European network – a new project?"
21.30 h IFB Awards Ceremony
Saturday,
24th of May
Youth
forum workshops at the Tricentenaire Centre Chalet Ginko in
Heisdorf
9.45 h
Arrival, coffee
time and information
about the workshop day
10.00 h
General
thematically input: "The role of
religion and tolerance for
youth in a globalizing society between tradition and overture:
intercultural dialogue"
10.30 h
Workshop (IFB,
Amel Alić, Jelena
Brkić & Irena Šaravanja): "Tolerance
and religious principles"
12.30 h
Barbecue at the
Chalet
14.00 h
Workshop (LGS,
Nathalie Keipes &
Marc Hubert): "How to live tolerance
and religion?" General and Luxembourg specific role games and
evaluation of the experiences with upcoming discussion.
16.00 h
Coffee break
16.15 h
Plenary
workshop presentations and
exchanges in presence of official guests
16.30 h
Refreshments
Local
Workshop
information and free applications at the Office of the
Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten, Marc Hubert [marc.hubert@lgs.lu / Tel. 26 94
84 25] or Daniel Godart [sgodart@pt.lu
/ Tel. 621 317 861]
Participants:
aged of 16 years +, interested in dialogue between different cultures,
no specific knowledge required
Main
language:
English, but possibility to speak Luxembourgish, German or French
The
participation in the workshop day is for free, including the barbecue
18.30 h
Catholic
Service in the Cathedral of Luxembourg with Professor Mile Babic
(Justitia et Pax Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Main working
language of the
conference is English.
Public debates
will be with a
simultaneous translation in English and French.
The
international conference
"Religious Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism in the European
Integration Process of the Western Balkan" is a part of a long term
project of the International Forum Bosnia concerning changing and
developing knowledge about plurality and tolerance.
The objective
is to influence the
attitudes and behaviours of individuals and groups that are a treat to
desirable European future, in order to achieve sustainable
intercultural reconciliation within global Pan-European stability.
Results of the conference will be presented to the wide audience and
will serve in articulation of the new programs.
Entrevue du ministre
délégué aux Affaires étrangères et
à l'Immigration, Nicolas Schmit, avec l'ancien Vice-Premier
ministre de
la Bosnie et actuel président du International Forum Bosnia,
Rusmir
Mahmutcehajic
(6.6.2008)
Commission
luxembourgeoise
"Justice et Paix"
http://www.restena.lu/justpaix