EditStrengthening EU-Kazakhstan cooperation in interfaith dialogue: a personal reflection
Both the EU and Kazakhstan understand that in today’s world – where antisemitism, Islamophobia, and attacks on Christians are rising alarmingly, dialogue is a necessity
I still vividly remember the awe I felt standing inside the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana – that towering glass pyramid by Norman Foster that seems to defy both time and space. As a journalist reporting for Euractiv (at that time), I had the privilege of attending several sessions of Kazakhstan’s Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Those gatherings left a lasting impression on me: religious leaders from across the globe engaging in sincere, open dialogue under one roof, in a country that proudly bridges Europe and Asia.
Kazakhstan has built an enviable tradition of fostering interfaith harmony. Since 2003, it has hosted this unique Congress, which has grown into a permanent platform with an International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue. In a multi-ethnic, Muslim-majority society, the country has maintained remarkable internal peace, serving as a genuine haven where Christians, Jews, Buddhists and other communities live side by side without major conflict.
The European Union, rooted in its predominantly Christian heritage, has long promoted interfaith initiatives to protect minorities and build tolerance within and beyond its borders. Both the EU and Kazakhstan understand that in today’s world – where antisemitism, Islamophobia, and attacks on Christians are rising alarmingly amid geopolitical tensions and online hate – dialogue is not a luxury but a necessity.
This shared commitment makes deeper EU-Kazakhstan cooperation on interfaith matters not only logical but urgent. Europe can bring institutional expertise and networks, while Kazakhstan offers proven practical experience in “spiritual diplomacy” across civilizations. Joint initiatives – from youth exchanges and educational programmes to high-level forums – could amplify our common voice against hatred and for mutual respect.
Individual EU member states can also play a vital role in advancing interfaith dialogue. As someone from Bulgaria, I am particularly encouraged by the remarkable example in the heart of Sofia, where a mosque, a synagogue and an Orthodox cathedral stand side by side – a living symbol of coexistence that has endured for generations. Bringing high-level interfaith initiatives closer to local communities in this spirit could create a virtuous circle: greater public engagement, deeper mutual understanding, and a stronger shared commitment to tolerance across our continent and beyond.
In the early 1990s, as a young Bulgarian diplomat, I accompanied my ambassador to Kigali for the presentation of credentials to President Juvénal Habyarimana. During that visit we met the ambassadors of the major powers – the United States, the Soviet Union, Belgium (as the former colonial power), China and others – and gathered valuable first-hand assessments of the situation.
Yet none of those conversations left a deeper impression on me than the one with the Vatican’s envoy. This thoughtful priest, who maintained a dense network of missionaries throughout the country, spoke with quiet urgency about his gravest fear: a major ethnic conflict was brewing. His insights, drawn from grassroots sources far richer than diplomatic cables, proved hauntingly prescient. That encounter, just a few years before the 1994 genocide, taught me a lasting lesson: religious leaders often possess a unique, ground-level understanding of societies that no one else can match. Since then, I have always paid special attention to what they have to say.
Kazakhstan’s pyramid in the steppe stands as a bold symbol. It reminds us that peace requires vision, courage and sustained effort. By partnering more closely with Astana on interfaith dialogue, the European Union can help turn that symbol into a global model – and make our shared neighbourhood safer and more harmonious for generations to come.
Caption: The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, a 62-metre-high pyramid in Astana that serves as a non-denominational national spiritual centre and event venue. Designed by architectural practice Foster and Partners and developed in partnership with Aldar Properties, the Palace is surmounted by a modern stained glass apex by architectural artist Brian Clarke. The Palace was constructed to house the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. [Tripadvisor]
Updated: July 2, 2026 - 05:29
