ARCHBISHOP AGHAN BALIOZIAN AMONG A TEN-PERSON DELEGATION FROM
AUSTRALIA TO VISIT INDONESIA FOR DIALOGUE ON INTERFAITH COOPERATION

SYDNEY, December 9 (Noyan Tapan). The 10-person delegation from
Australia arrived this morning after participating in a Dialogue on
Interfaith Cooperation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Dialogue involved
religious leaders from the major faiths and religions and Interfaith
experts from the South East Asia region that included Australia,
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and
Viet Nam. The theme of the Dialogue was “Dialogue on Interfaith
Cooperation: Community Building and Harmony”.

At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, the
Hon. Alexander Downer M.P., His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia
and New Zealand, was among the delegation from Australia that included
six Christian leaders representing the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting,
Lutheran and Armenian Orthodox Churches, plus representatives from the
Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.

According to the Press Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Australia and New Zealand, the Dialogue on Interfaith Cooperation is a
joint Australia-Indonesia initiative announced by Mr Downer and his
Indonesian counterpart, H.E. Dr N. Hassan Wirajuda at the ASEAN
meetings in Jakarta in July.

The broad objective of the Dialogue is to convene discussion among
world denominations and to foster greater understanding and
cooperation between the various faith communities in the region. By
working together more closely, there is also much potential to resolve
the challenges that face communities today.

On his return, Archbishop Aghan said: “It was a high level delegation
that demonstrated a mutual respect and understanding toward differing
faiths and beliefs. It is with real hope that the dialogue will
continue to create real harmony in the region.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress