HL Deb 27 February 2002 vol 631 cc1435-6

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What conclusions they draw from the day of united prayer for peace, held by the leaders of worldwide faiths in Assisi, Italy, on 24th January, and in particular their declaration renouncing the use of violence.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker)

My Lords, there is no ministerial responsibility or accountability in respect of the event mentioned in the noble Lord's Question. However, the Government welcome this reaffirmation that the main world faiths have common values of peace and tolerance, shared by decent people of all beliefs and of no belief. We welcome their renunciation of the violence and terrorism perpetrated by some in the name of religion. We also welcome the commitment to eliminate the root causes of terrorism through dialogue and education, the promotion of mutual support and respect, and the creation of a world of solidarity and peace based on justice.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, even if he is not personally responsible for the issue raised in the Question. Will he take matters a step further by asking his right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary to ask British missions overseas to seek and positively encourage inter-religious cooperation, particularly in the conflict areas of the world?

Lord Rooker

My Lords, the Foreign Secretary works through the embassies and the diplomatic corps. To be honest, we are being asked to tread in muddy waters. We have made it abundantly clear that we want peace and tolerance and everybody—of whatever faith or of none—to be treated equally.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, did the leaders of faiths in Northern Ireland take part in the day of prayer? If so, did they also subscribe to the renunciation of violence?

Lord Rooker

My Lords, I am not responsible for listing the participants in the private operation referred to in the Question. It has nothing to do with the Government. The Government were not represented and it is not for me to publish a list of those participating or to discuss that matter in the House.

Baroness Williams of Crosby

My Lords, I appreciate the Minister's reply, but will he consider that possibly the most dangerous situation in the world at the moment is the Middle East? If he reads the declaration, he will find that the leaders of the Islamic faith, the Jewish faith and the Christian faith have all said that they would welcome frank and peaceful dialogue over the troubling issues of Israel and Palestine. Will he suggest to the Foreign Secretary that this is an issue that might well he built upon. given that those spiritual leaders have great influence, not least in that very troubled part of the world?

Lord Rooker

My Lords, I am happy to draw these exchanges to the attention of the Foreign Secretary. The whole point of the process is getting people to talk, not fight each other, as a way of finding solutions to the world's problems.

The Lord Bishop of Guildford

My Lords. I am grateful to the Minister for his reply to the important Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton. Is he aware of how many important dialogues and encounters are taking place in our country and across the world and of the very important role that religions play in peace-building and culture-forming? For example, following on what the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, said, the Archbishop of Canterbury called an important inter-faith meeting in the Middle East recently, which led to the Alexandria declaration among Jewish, Islamic and Christian leaders. Will the Government assure us of their encouragement of the faith communities in those dialogues, which have a significant impact on the peace-making movement?

Lord Rooker

Of course, my Lords. As I said in my original Answer, some people use their religion as a means of waging war and intolerance on their fellow human beings. That is to be condemned. It is also true that people of faith do not have a monopoly on peace and tolerance. We want everybody to be involved in dialogue. To that extent, we shall do what we can to encourage everybody of whatever faith from whatever part of the world to talk to each other as a way of finding solutions to problems rather than going to war.

Lord Campbell of Alloway

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the attitude of the Government, as explained by him, appears to some of us to be totally appropriate?

Lord Rooker

My Lords, as that was not a question, there is no answer to it.

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