REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LONDON -- Indonesia and Russia, two countries with multi-ethnic, culture and religious backgrounds, have organized an interfaith and media dialog held at the Civic Center of the Russian Federation in Moscow. First Secretary of the Indonesian Embassy's Information, Social and Cultural Affairs Enjay Diana, said that the roles of state, people and media were very important for building tolerance, harmony and world peace, including for overcoming various global challenges.

Diana in Moscow, told Antara in London on Monday that the two countries should preserve their diversities which constitute wealth as a strength and a uniting factor of the nation. The dialog of the two countries carried a theme: "Forging a Resilient State and Civil Society towards Religious Harmony".

Attending the dialog included government officials, religious figures, academicians, media representatives and social observers of the two countries. Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cecep Herawan, as Chair of the Indonesian delegation described the interfaith dialog as a step to improve mutual understanding and tolerance.

"It is hoped that the dialog will overcome challenges of everyday life in society, such as the economy, peace and the environment," he said.

He said Indonesia had taken the initiative in promoting interfaith dialog and media in diplomacy. Dialog must provide concrete results, he said.

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The Indonesian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, M. Wahid Supriyadi accompanied the Indonesian delegation consisting of Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, Special Staff to the President of the International Religious Affairs; Azyumardi Azra, Special Staff to the Vice President for Bureaucratic Reform; Philip K. Widjaja, Chairperson of the Central Board of the Indonesian Buddhist Assembly; Rev. Gomar Gultom, General Secretary of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia; and Zulfiani Lubis, Editor in Chief of the IDN Times.

Russian chief delegate Konstantin Shuvalov said the interfaith dialog forum promoted by Indonesia was a forum for the state to learn from each other in fostering tolerance and creating a pluralistic society.

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