July 17, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 13, 1429

MADRID, July 16: Saudi King Abdullah appealed for “constructive dialogue” to end disputes among the major religions as he opened an inter-faith conference here on Wednesday.

“We all believe in one God... We are meeting here today to say that religion should be a means to iron out differences and not to lead to disputes,” he said the three-day World Conference on Dialogue organised by the Muslim World League.

He called for a “constructive dialogue to open a new page of reconciliation after so many disputes”.

Around 200 people, including representatives of the world’s major religions, are attending the conference. Among them are the secretary general of the World Jewish Congress, Michael Schneider, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who is responsible for dialogue between the Vatican and Muslims.

“Most of the dialogue has ended in failure...,” King Abdullah said. “To succeed we must emphasise the common link among us which a belief in God.” He said religion could combat many of the problems of modern society.

“Terrorism..., the breakdown of families, drugs, exploitation of the weak — all these are the consequences of a spiritual void.”

Four closed-door roundtables will be held before a final communique on Friday.

The secretary general of the Mekkah-based Muslim World League, Abdullah Al Turki, said: “The aim of this conference is for us to get to know each other and to look for ways to cooperate.

He said “common issues among religions such as ethics, family and the environment” would be raised, but not religion or politics.—AFP