It is a privilege for us to welcome you all. The Religion, Science and the Environment Committee holds a special place in our heart and in our ministry.

It has been a joy and a pleasure for us to delegate the organization of these Symposia to such a gifted number of individuals, scientists, theologians and religious leaders, under the chairmanship of the Most Reverend Metropolitan John of Pergamon, who has served as our spokesperson on environmental issues throughout the world in recent years.

It has long been our conviction that the protection of the natural environment, the creation of our loving God, cannot be realized by any one of us without one another. It cannot be brought about by any one discipline or religion in isolation of the others. Together, we share the resources of this beautiful planet. And, together, we bear the responsibility for the damage that we have brought upon our world, shattering its natural beauty by the selfish way that we have exploited and continue to exploit its resources.

We are, therefore, grateful for the presence here of old and new friends; of scholars and scientists; environmentalists, journalists and writers; of the symposium coordinators, organizers and assistants, but especially of representatives from the Caspian Sea region.

In many ways, the Caspian Sea bears a history marked by the influence of diverse civilizations. It stands at the point of encounter for two continents of the West and the East, namely Europe and Asia. It has provided cultural and material nourishment for the entire world. The Indo-European languages are believed to have been born near the shores of the Caspian.

We know well the way in which the environment of the Caspian Sea has been degraded through years of neglect, and commercial exploitation. We know well the dangers that have resulted from a lack of regional environmental cooperation. The chemical pollution, the recent rise in water levels, the impact on fish stocks and biodiversity, the development of the offshore oil industry in the last few decades – all of these have been well documented and are generally acknowledged. At the same time, we know the central and critical significance of the Caspian Sea to the entire surrounding region. There is an urgent need for joint protection and sensitive management of this important Sea.

The Symposium aims to build upon existing regional cooperation generated by Conventions, by bringing together the unified voices of Religions and Sciences before an audience of the international media and policymakers, primarily to learn and help, and not to teach.

This Symposium presents particular challenges. Yet this is why this Symposium presents us with a unique opportunity, our Moslem friends are not simply invited guests; they are equal partners. We recognize that the Moslem people adore one living and merciful God, submitting to His decrees that all of creation should be revered, practicing prayer, almsgiving and fasting, while at the same time prizing social justice and moral values.

Islam has so often been misunderstood and misrepresented by the Western world. It is important to return to the ways of dialogue and reconciliation that were practised by early Church Fathers, who appreciated and affirmed the contribution of the Faith of Muhammad.

We are convinced that our strength lies precisely in our humility and weakness; our effectiveness lies in our vulnerability. And our success lies in the commonality of our goal, which is to venerate our Creator through the transformation of His creation. And our common purpose and vision lies in the significance that we attribute to the natural environment, which we are all called to respect and protect.

May your deliberations be blessed toward this goal. You are most welcome in our heart.