RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS FROM FORMER SOVIET UNION AND EASTERN EUROPE GATHER FOR WORLD PEACE SUMMIT

Attendance of leaders from former communist nations marks progress for religious freedom

New York—[August 21, 2000]—A large contingent of religious leaders from Central Asia and Eastern Europe are attending the Millennium World Peace Summit to begin on August 28, 2000 at the United Nations. Their presence at this event is a testament to the religious regeneration that has followed the fall of communism in the early 1990's. Russian Orthodox, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Jewish leaders from countries such as Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, the Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Latvia will meet with other religious leaders on August 28-31 to engage in a dialogue of mutual respect and commitment to peace, resolution of conflicts and preservation of the environment.

Many of the religious and spiritual leaders attending the summit, who hail from 50 countries worldwide and represent every major religious faith, have only recently regained their voices and positions within their respective societies. Most of these countries have zones of conflict with religious, ethnic and political differences. Even before the opening invocations at the United Nations, the attendance of these diverse cultures signifies a growing momentum of religious tolerance.

"Taking into account the importance and timing of such a gathering as the World Peace Summit, we support the declaration towards global economic and social justice—it was our dream for the new millennium to have world order," said Metropolitan Kirill, Russian Orthodox Church.

"The work of these leaders in rebuilding faith and unity within their own societies has prepared them for this upcoming summit," says Bawa Jain, Secretary General of the Millennium World Peace Summit. "Their presence alone speaks to the healing power of communities."

The following is a list of leaders who will be attending the Summit from the former communist countries of Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Russian Orthodox
Archbishop of Ukraine Svystun Leonid (Ukraine)
Archbishop of Tallin and All Estonia Korniliy (Estonia)
Metropolitan of Volokalamsk and Urievsk Pitirim, Nechaev Konstantin (Russia)
Silantiev R.A.-Secretariat official, department of Church External Relations of Moscow (Russia)
Archpriest Chaplin (Russia)
Cantareanu Nikolai, Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova (Moldova)
Vladimir Kondratenko-Bishop of Tashkent and Central Asia, (Uzbekistan)

Jewish
Shaevich Adolf-Chief Rabbi of Russia (Russia)
Kogan Zinoviy-Chairman of Jewish religious Community of Russia (Russia)
Barkan Natan-Rabbi of Latvian Jewish Congregation, (Latvia)

Islam
Mufi Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of Supreme Council
of Russia's Mufties (Russia)
Sheih Farid Asadulin, Religious Board of Moslems of
European part of Russia (Russia)
Mufti Gusman Ishakov, Religious Board of Moslems of
Tatarstan (Russia)
Mufti Magomet Albogatcheev, Religious Board of
Ingushetia Moslems (Russia)
Bragin Rashid E. – Chairman, Spiritual Council of
Moslems of Ukraine (Ukraine)
Mufti Allah Shukur Pasha – Zade, Chairman of Spiritual Council of Moslems of Caucasus (Russia)
Mufti Bakhramov A, Chief of Muslem Committee of
Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan)
Mufti Kimsibay Abdurahmanov – Chairman, Spiritual Council of
Moslems of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan)
Mufti Nasrullah Ibn Ibadullah – Chairman, Spiritual Council of
Moslems of Turkmenistan (Turkmenistan)
Ahmed-Khadzi Kadirov-Mufti of Itchkeria (Russia)
Sheih Hafiz Sabri Kotchi-Mufti of Albania (Albania)
Sheih Ali Alish Khadzi-Mufti of Bulgaria (Bulgaria)
Sheih Osman Negeat-Mufti of Romania (Romania)
Sheih Yan Sobolevski-Mufti of Poland (Poland)
Sheih Mustafa Lusuphspahitch-Mufti of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia)
Okan Daher-Mufti of Finland (Finland)

Buddhist
Ausheev Damba Badmaevitch (Russia)
Dondokov Boris (Russia)

All journalists wishing to cover the portions of the Religious Summit taking place at UN Headquarters must obtain UN Press Credentials. Interested journalists must submit a request to the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (fax: 212-963-4642) accompanied by a letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization and signed by a publisher, assignment editor or bureau chief. The letter should specify the name of the journalist seeking accreditation. The status of the request may be checked by calling 212-963-5934 or 7164. Once approved, a UN grounds pass can by obtained by presenting two forms of photo identification at the Pass and Identification Unit, UNITAR Building, 45th Street and First Avenue, New York, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and between 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. For further information regarding UN accreditation only, call 212-963-6934, 6936 or 6937.

UNTV will be covering the Peace Summit. To obtain b-roll please call UNTV at 212-963-7650.

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