Стр. 18 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : K. Dolgov
Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law
TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS are charac-
terized by mounting unpredictability and instability and the
rapidly growing risks of deepening inter-civilizational, in-
tercultural and interreligious divides. A number of experts
on international issues note that there is reason to talk about
a global crisis of religious freedoms. In substantiation of
this, they refer to the sad statistics of Christianophobia that,
according to human rights advocates, exists in 139 countries.
Islamophobia exists in 121 countries. The level of anti-
Semitism in the world shows no signs of abating. On the
contrary, in recent years, the situation has deteriorated everywhere. And most disturbingly, the under-
standing that respect for religion and religious freedoms is critical for the normal development and
prosperity of human communities seems to be weakening in the world at large, in particular in Europe
and the United States.
We are confident that international stability and sustained global development is only possible on the
basis of a mutually respectful dialogue between different faiths and civilizations with the observance
of peoples' rights to determine their future independently. Comprehensive assistance to this principle
is Russia's unquestionable policy priority both at home and on the international arena.
Despite the measures taken by states, there has been a considerable rise in intolerance against Jews,
Muslims, Christians and members of other religions in the OSCE region.
I cannot but mention problems that Christians are faced with in a number of Western states, where for
some reason it has become non-PC to indicate a person's affiliation with the Christian religion, and
people are even beginning to be embarrassed by Christian values, which constitute the foundation of
European civilization. Aggressive secularism is gaining ground. The concepts of morality and traditional
ethnic, cultural
and religious identity are eroding. There are growing instances of vandalism and the desecration of
churches and cathedrals, holy places, cemeteries, and Christian symbols. It is increasingly difficult for
believers to openly practice their faith.
We are confident that an effective recipe to cure the problems faced by the international community
today is to build a moral platform for consolidating the efforts of all its members based on traditional
values that have ensured mankind's progressive development from generation to generation. We believe
that religious organizations play a very important role in this process. We will provide all the necessary
assistance to the constructive efforts to ensure international stability and sustainable global development
based on an equal and mutually respectful dialogue among different faiths and civilizations on the solid
basis of international law.
Official Diplomacy and Peacekeeping Efforts of Religious Organ-
izations