Nicosia, Cyprus, June 26, 2026. – The Cuban ambassador to Cyprus, Rubén Pino Martínez, participated this Friday in the High-Level Conference on Coexistence and Interreligious Diversity, held in this capital as part of the conclusion of Cyprus' presidency of the EU Council.
The event was inaugurated by Cyprus' minister of foreign affairs, Mr Constantinos Kombos, who welcomed representatives from the European Union, policymakers, members of the academic world, and civil society representatives, emphasizing the valuable opportunity the meeting provided to exchange ideas, strengthen cooperation among friends, coordinate support for existing initiatives, and reinforce ties between communities in the region.
Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance in the Kingdom of Bahrain, stated that events of this nature are not aimed at creating uniformity but rather at “learning from each other, sharing experiences, identifying principles that transcend geographical borders, and building alliances capable of facing global challenges.”
“Coexistence should not be understood solely as the absence of conflict,” Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa pointed out. “It is the presence of trust; it is the certainty that everyone has a place within society and the capacity within communities to stay united despite their differences.”
During the opening day, the European Union’s special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief, Ms Mairead McGuinness, acknowledged how nowadays “the seeds of hatred, division, and extremism spread very easily.” However, she pointed out, "We can prevent them from spreading through education and dialogue and by working alongside local religious communities. If we allow these seeds to keep spreading and growing, we will see an increase in intolerance, division, and violations of fundamental human rights.”
The conference will cover, among other topics related to religion and religious diversity, the role of government actors, the role of civil society and community actors, hate speech, extremism, and social cohesion, among other urgent analyses.
Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus