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Background

In June 2010, in order to resolve peacebuilding issues after an interethnic conflict in Kyrgyzstan, The President of the Kyrgyz Republic Roza Otunbayeva initiated the establishment of an interreligious dialogue platform in Kyrgyzstan. For this purpose, President Otunbayeva invited the Chairman of the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL) Gunnar Stålsett and the Chairman of the ESRL and Secretary General of the ESRL Stein Villumstad to Kyrgyzstan. During two visits in June and October 2010, the parties focused on the need to create an interfaith dialogue in Kyrgyzstan.

initiative of Kyrgyz President Otunbayeva

The State Commission for Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan (SCRA) supported the initiative of Kyrgyz President Otunbayeva and, together with religious leaders, actively joined in the process of discussing the initiative to create an interfaith council. On January 12, 2011, the State Commission for Religious Affairs, together with the European Council of Religious Leaders, held the first interreligious conference “Different Faiths – Common Values – Common Actions”. At this conference, the religious leaders of Kyrgyzstan supported the initiative to establish a platform for interreligious dialogue in Kyrgyzstan.