Christian-Muslim conference on the Christian presence and witness in the Middle Ease will take place at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias from January 24-28, 2012.

The conference will deal with issues and challenges facing the Christian communities at this critical juncture of the history of the Middle East. It will also explore the efficient ways and means of deepening Christian-Muslim coexistence and collaboration, as partners in building democratic societies.

The conference is organized by the World Council of Churches in collaboration with the Middle East Council of Churches. More than 50 persons, christians and muslims spiritual leaders, intellectuals, actors of civil society will take part in this conference. A number of ecumenical partners from Europe and USA will also attend the meeting.

The opening session will take place on Tuesday evening. The speakers at the opening session will be His Holiness Aram I, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the WCC, Dr. Mohammad Sammak, General Secretary of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee, Dr. Paul Rouhanna, General Secretary of the MECC, reported the press service of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.