Fifth bilateral interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia: “Through Dialogue to Peace: Tolerance and Culture”
The Fifth bilateral interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia, under the slogan “Through Dialogue to Peace: Tolerance and Culture,” took place on 12 November 2024, in the ceremonial hall of the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.
For over three decades, Indonesia has been conducting interfaith dialogues with partner countries worldwide. The first bilateral interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia was held in 2011 in Belgrade and was recognized by the Indonesian partners as the most successful dialogue the country had ever conducted with another nation. This fruitful cooperation continued in 2013 with the second dialogue in Jakarta, which will be remembered by the fact that for the first time in history an Orthodox Patriarch visited that country – Serbian Patriarch Irinej of blessed memory. The third dialogue was held in Belgrade in 2015, during which Indonesia provided strong support to Serbia by voting against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO at a conference in Paris. The fourth dialogue took place in 2019 in Yogyakarta, and now, in 2024, the Ministry of Justice's Administration for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities, led by its Director Dr. Vladimir Roganović, has once again been a host to the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia, organizing the Fifth bilateral interfaith dialogue.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Roganović expressed his satisfaction at being able to open the Fifth Bilateral Interfaith Dialogue between the Republic of Serbia and Indonesia on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and extended a warm welcome to all participants. He emphasized that the dialogue, first held in 2011 at the same venue, has made significant progress over the years and recalled the historic visit of the late Patriarch Irinej to Indonesia, as well as the continuous and invaluable participation of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in all interfaith gatherings. This, he noted, underscores the importance of these meetings for the Serbian Orthodox Church and all traditional religious communities that, alongside the state, contribute to building mutual understanding, cooperation, and respect for diversity.
Dr. Roganović highlighted that the theme of the conference was: “Through Dialogue to Tolerance and Culture.” – This topic is the pinnacle of every monotheistic religion. It is focused on promoting peace, with God first, but also with other people. The goal of today’s dialogue is not only to continue fostering interfaith understanding and encouraging peace and tolerance but also to deepen knowledge, open new perspectives, and maintain continuity in these important interfaith relations. We have had the opportunity to learn from the Republic of Indonesia in many aspects of this topic – Dr. Roganović pointed out, expressing gratitude to Indonesia’s leadership for its strong support of the Republic of Serbia in preserving its territorial integrity, both within the United Nations and on other global platforms.
Following his address, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije delivered a welcoming speech and expressed his joy at participating once again in the interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia, which has been nurtured since 2011.
– I am pleased that there has been continuity for almost a decade and a half in this noble idea of bringing people together. Such gatherings remind us of the importance of nurturing every form of dialogue, and in this particular case – the interfaith dialogue, for the benefit of every believer who knows their faith and identity, and who, therefore, feels the need to understand the faith of others. This healthy relationship among people, particularly believers, is made possible by platforms for dialogue such as this one, which promote interfaith literacy. A person who knows their own faith demonstrates understanding and cannot be misused in their relationship with others. Interreligious, i.e. interfaith dialogue is often misunderstood, and it is, therefore, very important to pave the way for encounters with people who express their faith in God differently, enriching our knowledge of the world we share. That path – or better said, the intersection of paths – is the fundamental prerequisite for any dialogue, and especially for interfaith dialogue, which leads to understanding and acceptance of the other and the different in our lives and society, not just temporarily but for a lifetime – forever. Interfaith dialogue is not syncretism, nor is it proselytism. Interfaith dialogue is a concrete process where each participant brings their own teachings and goodwill to the platform of dialogue to foster understanding among people – stated Patriarch Porfirije.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Serbia, Mr. Muhammad Chandra, highlighted the significance of dialogue for both countries, despite their geographical distance. – For Indonesia, our dialogue holds great importance, as it helps address and alleviate various challenges faced by the modern world. I hope that through dialogue and cooperation, we can build the foundation for a more harmonious world – stated Ambassador Chandra.
Ms. Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, Director-General for Information and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, reminded the audience of the rich history of friendship and cooperation between Serbia and Indonesia, which this year celebrates an important milestone – 70 years of diplomatic relations – with special emphasis on their collaboration within the Non-Aligned Movement. She pointed out contemporary global challenges and frequent conflicts, emphasizing: – Our shared task is to find solutions to all challenges through mutual cooperation. The fight for peace begins with dialogue. Nurturing dialogue is key to preserving and developing diversity, as well as defending peace and religious freedoms. Indonesia is dedicated to promoting and preserving these values and proudly highlights that it has brought to Belgrade a delegation of Indonesia’s most qualified experts, who will continue to support this dialogue even after the conference ends. A special focus of the dialogue is the cooperation of five universities, which will further strengthen interfaith collaboration and advance dialogue.
Ms. Mauludiah expressed her admiration for Serbia's rich history and announced the next dialogue in 2026, adding that Indonesia would have the honor of reciprocating Serbia's warm hospitality.
The final address in the opening session was delivered by Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali Ramdhani, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Prof. Muhammad expressed gratitude for attending the bilateral dialogue, stressing that peace and tolerance are essential for finding common ground. According to him, efforts in dialogue must be intensified, as dialogue acts as a bridge connecting people. – Indonesia, as a country with a majority Muslim population, is proud of its diverse religious landscape, and this diversity is a strength symbolized by the motto Unity in Diversity. The Ministry of Religious Affairs plays a key role in promoting religious tolerance, supporting national programs that strengthen religious regulations and enable the construction of places of worship. Delegates from Indonesia, under the Ministry’s guidance, consider collaboration in education to be of exceptional importance, as it inspires commitment to peace rooted in tolerance – said Prof. Muhammad, expressing confidence that existing relations and dialogue would continue to strengthen, contributing to harmony in the world we live in.
Following the opening addresses, the first session of the conference, titled “Religious Tolerance in Public Discourse,” began, focusing on reviewing current efforts and initiatives aimed at fostering harmonious relations among religious communities in Serbia and Indonesia. The speakers analyzed existing mechanisms and activities in both countries that build an atmosphere of mutual acceptance and peaceful coexistence.
The session centered on two key topics. The first topic concerned the role of governments in domestic and foreign policy in promoting acceptance and peaceful coexistence. The speakers highlighted the importance of the active role governments can play in fostering mutual respect and tolerance. They presented examples of various initiatives and policies implemented by both countries to ensure a safe environment for diverse religious communities. The second topic focused on promoting religious literacy as a foundation for better understanding and acceptance of diversity. The speakers emphasized that education about religious and cultural diversity can be a powerful tool for building a society that respects all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliations.
The session concluded with a call to strengthen dialogue and cooperation among different religious communities, as well as the need to continue investing in projects that promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The second and final session of the conference, titled “The Role of Churches and Religious Communities in Preserving Cultural Heritage,” focused on the role of religious institutions in preserving cultural identity and heritage amid the rapid and continuous changes of modern times. Speakers from Serbia and Indonesia shared their experiences, providing examples of best practices and initiatives implemented in their societies to protect cultural and religious heritage.
The first topic addressed in the session was the role of religious leaders and communities in preserving cultural and religious heritage. The speakers stressed that religious leaders and communities play a crucial role in preserving the traditions and cultural wealth of their peoples. By relying on their institutions, religious communities can actively work to preserve ancient customs, cultural monuments, and religious landmarks, thereby contributing to the preservation of collective identity. In response to the question of how to promote the permanence of identity, the speakers discussed strategies for strengthening a sense of belonging and preserving cultural identity in the modern world. The session concluded with a recommendation for religious communities to continue their efforts in promoting and protecting cultural heritage, as well as a call to enhance cooperation between religious institutions and civil society to strengthen heritage preservation efforts in contemporary times.
For over three decades, Indonesia has been conducting interfaith dialogues with partner countries worldwide. The first bilateral interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia was held in 2011 in Belgrade and was recognized by the Indonesian partners as the most successful dialogue the country had ever conducted with another nation. This fruitful cooperation continued in 2013 with the second dialogue in Jakarta, which will be remembered by the fact that for the first time in history an Orthodox Patriarch visited that country – Serbian Patriarch Irinej of blessed memory. The third dialogue was held in Belgrade in 2015, during which Indonesia provided strong support to Serbia by voting against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO at a conference in Paris. The fourth dialogue took place in 2019 in Yogyakarta, and now, in 2024, the Ministry of Justice's Administration for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities, led by its Director Dr. Vladimir Roganović, has once again been a host to the delegation of the Republic of Indonesia, organizing the Fifth bilateral interfaith dialogue.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Roganović expressed his satisfaction at being able to open the Fifth Bilateral Interfaith Dialogue between the Republic of Serbia and Indonesia on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and extended a warm welcome to all participants. He emphasized that the dialogue, first held in 2011 at the same venue, has made significant progress over the years and recalled the historic visit of the late Patriarch Irinej to Indonesia, as well as the continuous and invaluable participation of His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije in all interfaith gatherings. This, he noted, underscores the importance of these meetings for the Serbian Orthodox Church and all traditional religious communities that, alongside the state, contribute to building mutual understanding, cooperation, and respect for diversity.
Dr. Roganović highlighted that the theme of the conference was: “Through Dialogue to Tolerance and Culture.” – This topic is the pinnacle of every monotheistic religion. It is focused on promoting peace, with God first, but also with other people. The goal of today’s dialogue is not only to continue fostering interfaith understanding and encouraging peace and tolerance but also to deepen knowledge, open new perspectives, and maintain continuity in these important interfaith relations. We have had the opportunity to learn from the Republic of Indonesia in many aspects of this topic – Dr. Roganović pointed out, expressing gratitude to Indonesia’s leadership for its strong support of the Republic of Serbia in preserving its territorial integrity, both within the United Nations and on other global platforms.
Following his address, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije delivered a welcoming speech and expressed his joy at participating once again in the interfaith dialogue between Serbia and Indonesia, which has been nurtured since 2011.
– I am pleased that there has been continuity for almost a decade and a half in this noble idea of bringing people together. Such gatherings remind us of the importance of nurturing every form of dialogue, and in this particular case – the interfaith dialogue, for the benefit of every believer who knows their faith and identity, and who, therefore, feels the need to understand the faith of others. This healthy relationship among people, particularly believers, is made possible by platforms for dialogue such as this one, which promote interfaith literacy. A person who knows their own faith demonstrates understanding and cannot be misused in their relationship with others. Interreligious, i.e. interfaith dialogue is often misunderstood, and it is, therefore, very important to pave the way for encounters with people who express their faith in God differently, enriching our knowledge of the world we share. That path – or better said, the intersection of paths – is the fundamental prerequisite for any dialogue, and especially for interfaith dialogue, which leads to understanding and acceptance of the other and the different in our lives and society, not just temporarily but for a lifetime – forever. Interfaith dialogue is not syncretism, nor is it proselytism. Interfaith dialogue is a concrete process where each participant brings their own teachings and goodwill to the platform of dialogue to foster understanding among people – stated Patriarch Porfirije.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Serbia, Mr. Muhammad Chandra, highlighted the significance of dialogue for both countries, despite their geographical distance. – For Indonesia, our dialogue holds great importance, as it helps address and alleviate various challenges faced by the modern world. I hope that through dialogue and cooperation, we can build the foundation for a more harmonious world – stated Ambassador Chandra.
Ms. Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, Director-General for Information and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, reminded the audience of the rich history of friendship and cooperation between Serbia and Indonesia, which this year celebrates an important milestone – 70 years of diplomatic relations – with special emphasis on their collaboration within the Non-Aligned Movement. She pointed out contemporary global challenges and frequent conflicts, emphasizing: – Our shared task is to find solutions to all challenges through mutual cooperation. The fight for peace begins with dialogue. Nurturing dialogue is key to preserving and developing diversity, as well as defending peace and religious freedoms. Indonesia is dedicated to promoting and preserving these values and proudly highlights that it has brought to Belgrade a delegation of Indonesia’s most qualified experts, who will continue to support this dialogue even after the conference ends. A special focus of the dialogue is the cooperation of five universities, which will further strengthen interfaith collaboration and advance dialogue.
Ms. Mauludiah expressed her admiration for Serbia's rich history and announced the next dialogue in 2026, adding that Indonesia would have the honor of reciprocating Serbia's warm hospitality.
The final address in the opening session was delivered by Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali Ramdhani, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Prof. Muhammad expressed gratitude for attending the bilateral dialogue, stressing that peace and tolerance are essential for finding common ground. According to him, efforts in dialogue must be intensified, as dialogue acts as a bridge connecting people. – Indonesia, as a country with a majority Muslim population, is proud of its diverse religious landscape, and this diversity is a strength symbolized by the motto Unity in Diversity. The Ministry of Religious Affairs plays a key role in promoting religious tolerance, supporting national programs that strengthen religious regulations and enable the construction of places of worship. Delegates from Indonesia, under the Ministry’s guidance, consider collaboration in education to be of exceptional importance, as it inspires commitment to peace rooted in tolerance – said Prof. Muhammad, expressing confidence that existing relations and dialogue would continue to strengthen, contributing to harmony in the world we live in.
Following the opening addresses, the first session of the conference, titled “Religious Tolerance in Public Discourse,” began, focusing on reviewing current efforts and initiatives aimed at fostering harmonious relations among religious communities in Serbia and Indonesia. The speakers analyzed existing mechanisms and activities in both countries that build an atmosphere of mutual acceptance and peaceful coexistence.
The session centered on two key topics. The first topic concerned the role of governments in domestic and foreign policy in promoting acceptance and peaceful coexistence. The speakers highlighted the importance of the active role governments can play in fostering mutual respect and tolerance. They presented examples of various initiatives and policies implemented by both countries to ensure a safe environment for diverse religious communities. The second topic focused on promoting religious literacy as a foundation for better understanding and acceptance of diversity. The speakers emphasized that education about religious and cultural diversity can be a powerful tool for building a society that respects all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliations.
The session concluded with a call to strengthen dialogue and cooperation among different religious communities, as well as the need to continue investing in projects that promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The second and final session of the conference, titled “The Role of Churches and Religious Communities in Preserving Cultural Heritage,” focused on the role of religious institutions in preserving cultural identity and heritage amid the rapid and continuous changes of modern times. Speakers from Serbia and Indonesia shared their experiences, providing examples of best practices and initiatives implemented in their societies to protect cultural and religious heritage.
The first topic addressed in the session was the role of religious leaders and communities in preserving cultural and religious heritage. The speakers stressed that religious leaders and communities play a crucial role in preserving the traditions and cultural wealth of their peoples. By relying on their institutions, religious communities can actively work to preserve ancient customs, cultural monuments, and religious landmarks, thereby contributing to the preservation of collective identity. In response to the question of how to promote the permanence of identity, the speakers discussed strategies for strengthening a sense of belonging and preserving cultural identity in the modern world. The session concluded with a recommendation for religious communities to continue their efforts in promoting and protecting cultural heritage, as well as a call to enhance cooperation between religious institutions and civil society to strengthen heritage preservation efforts in contemporary times.
