Interfaith Cooperation: An Albanian Experience

Genti Kruja
Vice Dean of Humanities and Law Faculty

Abstract

Traditional religious communities in Albania have recently made intensive efforts to preserve and strengthen religious harmony in the country. These efforts have also been supported by international organisations and programs that endorse the development of interfaith dialogue in the world. Thus, with the support of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, the leaders of the four traditional religious communities in Albania drafted and signed the Declaration of Common Moral Commitment (2005), in which they publicly express their common views of preserving and strengthening religious harmony in Albania as well as the desire and willingness to engage in concrete action to achieve this goal. Following this Declaration, the religious leaders worked for the establishment of the Interreligious Council of Albania (IRCA), based on existing models of such councils, including the Balkans. This Council, whose foundation became formal in October 2007, would serve as the highest forum for interfaith dialogue and joint initiatives on issues of common interest including the issue of return of property to religious communities as a priority concern for all religious communities in Albania.


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Presentation