On July 25, 2016, through the initiative of Georgia’s State Agency for Religious Issues, the conference hall of Tbilisi Cortyard Mariott Hotel hosted the conference entitled “Interreligious Dialogue for Peace”. In attendance were the representatives of ten religious communities of Georgia, the Georgian MPs and members of the Government, representatives of diplomatic corps, and representatives of higher educational institutions cooperating with State Agency for Religious Issues.

With blessings from His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, assistant to the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; accompanied by Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department; and Diana Ter-Bagdasarova, Head of Department of Research on Armenian Historical and Cultural Heritage of Georgia; participated in the event.

Zaza Vashakmadze, the Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues, offered opening remarks; he reflected on conflicts based on religion taking place all over the world and highlighted the importance of interreligious dialogue for tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Speeches were made by the representatives of different religious communities. The speakers unanimously emphasized the importance of the development of relations between religious communities as essential factor that encourage peace, stressed the significance of religious education for the youth and instilling of love and respect in society.

In his remarks, Very Rev. Fr. Khoren Hovnannisyan noted in particular: “For a better Georgia and for a better world, we must not reject and subordinate minorities and representatives of other religions and nations just because they are different, but we must accept and respect them as they are. Our differences do not divide us, but make us beautiful. The Scripture says: “Love one another” – it does not say love Jews, Christians, Muslims or representatives of other religions and nations, but says – love one another, to put it another way – everyone. Our diversity is our beauty. ”

In his closing remarks, Father Khoren referred to the media of Georgia and said: “It is surely an oversight in today’s reality of Georgia that TV channel are often reluctant to cover minority festivals and important events, thus Georgian public remains uninformed on minorities living next to them. Taking into consideration the example of other countries, we believe that TV channels should make more room for and give more time to minorities which will provide us, the residents of Georgia, with an opportunity to get to know each other, to better understand and accept each other.

Nerses the Gracious, the12th century Armenian Catholicos, in his records “On the Profession of Faith” says: “Unity in the main, freedom in the secondary, and love in everything.” These words have not lost their relevance today.

God bless Georgia and the people of multiethnic Georgia.”

The participants of the conference adopted a declaration, which was signed by the representatives of different religious communities of Georgia. The event was closed with the remarks of Zaza Vashakmadze, the Head of the State Agency for Religious Issues.