On November 13, a roundtable discussion on the topic "Interfaith Dialogue as a Means of Strengthening Collective Security" was held at the Collective Security Treaty Organization Secretariat, timed to coincide with Kyrgyzstan's Day of Information and Press.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the media, religious communities, and analytical centers from Kyrgyzstan and Russia. The agenda included issues of interfaith relations, the interaction of religious organizations with society, and media in the Eurasian space.
The event was attended by the Chairman of the Central Administration of Buddhists of Russia, Geshe Yonten, who stated:
“Unfortunately, in the modern world, issues of religious development are often intertwined with state security concerns, as various destructive forces may operate under the guise of religion. This poses a threat not only to interfaith peace and harmony but also to the mental health of individuals. To prevent such consequences, it is critically important to foster cooperation between religious organizations and state authorities.
One positive example in recent years is the introduction to russian schools subjects like The basics of religious cultures and secular ethics, as well as Fundamentals of spirituality. As a result, a generation of young people has already grown up having taken these classes in school. I witnessed this personally when I gave lectures in Russian universities. In conversations with students, I noticed that they have a good understanding of the basics of various religions, show respect for other cultures and religions, and are committed to the idea of uniting all people.
It would be wonderful to share this positive experience with other CSTO member countries. We, in turn, also express our readiness and openness to cooperate on the CSTO platform in matters of developing interfaith dialogue.”
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