Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi and Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno signed a protocol of understanding today at the foreign ministry in Rome establishing the “Osservatorio della libertà religiosa” (Observatory for Religious Freedom) for the study, analysis and monitoring of freedom of worship around the world.
During the signing ceremony Minister Terzi reconfirmed Italy’s determination, along with the Holy See, to act in every international setting on behalf of the assertion of the universal values of interfaith dialogue and tolerance, underscoring the decisive role of the diplomatic network in maintaining Italy’s high profile in those countries where religious minorities continue to be the target of violence, discrimination and persecution.
In this context, the minister recalled the terms of Italy’s commitment within the UN and the EU, ensuring that fostering freedom of worship and peaceful co-existence between faiths would continue to be one of the distinguishing features of the ethical dimension of Italian foreign policy.
