Interfaith conference in Ukraine

Christians, Jews and Muslims met for an interfaith conference in Ukraine. More than 200 representatives of the country’s three major faiths met Wednesday and Thursday in Kiev to discuss issues of interfaith agreement, religious extremism and hate crimes. The event was organized by the interfaith group A Step to Unity, whose leader – Ukrainian Jewish business magnate Vadim Rabinovich – also heads the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress. Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Ukrainian lawmakers and international religious leaders attended. Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko was scheduled to participate but cancelled; no reason was given.