DECLARATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON "CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS IN A PLURALISED EUROPE"

Sarajevo, 12-16 September 2001

14 September 2001 

We Christians and Muslims are gathered from all over Europe at the Conference "Christians and Muslims in Europe: Responsibility and Religious Commitment in a Pluralised Society," jointly organised by the Conference of European Churches (KEK) and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), in Sarajevo, a city that has come to symbolize the human suffering brought by war and violence as well as the desire to build society on truly pluralist foundations.

We are deeply shocked by the tragic massacres in New York and Washington D. C., and we express our deep pain and sorrow for the thousands of victims killed and injured, and we share the suffering of their families and friends. We unanimously condemn this act of violence, as well as any other destruction of human life as a violation of God's will and a sin against humanity.

Recognising the potential for violence that resides in all of us, we pray that this senseless deed may not provoke indiscriminate retaliation. We commit ourselves, in the spirit of this conference, to be instruments of dialogue, to contribute to building justice and peace, and to work for reconciliation in our societies.