VATICAN In a symbolic ceremony held for making the world memorial statue of peace and friendship in the presence of Pope John Paul II in Vatican, representative of Iranian Zoroastrians to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) Khosro Dabestani represented the Asian Continent.
The ceremony was part of the programs held on the sidelines of the two-day jubilee of politicians that was attended by 5,000 representatives worldwide.
The event concluded work Sunday.
An Iranian parliamentary delegation headed by the rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Majlis, Ahmad Bourghani, and comprising representatives of religious minorities in Iran attended the session.
During the symbolic ceremony and in the presence of representatives of world parliaments and the Pope, MP Dabestani presented Iranian soil from the Asian Continent for the making of the world statue of peace and friendship.
Representatives from 10 world countries threw soil and water from the five continents in a huge pot place at the gala ceremony for this purpose. The soil and water will be used in making a ceramic statue as a token of peace, friendship and unity of the world people.
The ceremony was held following the release of the final declaration of session which underlined the need for fight against poverty, respect for human dignity and further attention toward religion.
Meanwhile, Bourghani said here Sunday that the national consensus that prevails on the need to implement reforms in Iran through peaceful means is a source of honor.
Addressing the two-day jubilee of politicians which ended Sunday, Bourghani said that the life which divine messengers lived teaches us that nothing is more praiseworthy than respecting human life and dignity.
Bourghani said there is no doubt the followers of Jesus Christ, whose name is associated with the greatest miracle, i.e., his resurrection, have no monopoly in the experience of religious deviation as the same experience is narrated in sublime Islamic teachings.
He said that those who give precedence to ideology over human life will find it hard to accept the conduct of the messenger of Islam who gave utmost priority to mankind.
Stressing that today's world is seriously in need of a a culture that inspires respect for human beings, Bourghani pointed to the principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran that guarantees respect for individual rights and the dignity and prestige of the country.
He said the new generation born after the revolution is pursuing a life which seeks guarantees to the free exercise of their rights as citizens, including freedom, as inherent parts of their right to make choices.
Pointing to the government's performance in Iran, Bourghani said since that since the current establishment came to power three years ago it has sought to give supremacy and respect for the people's rights.
However, he added, the Iranian society still has to work harder to realize its goal of implementing a civil society compatible with the provisions of its Constitution.
A step in the right direction, he said, is the fact that there is a national consensus on the need for reforms and that the same be achieved through peaceful means.
This is a source of honor for the country, he added.
(IRNA)