His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday stressed the need for interfaith dialogue to build bridges of tolerance and understanding between cultures.

In an address to the European People's Party (EPP) summit, delivered in the presence of 20 presidents and prime ministers, EU institution chiefs and opposition leaders, King Abdullah outlined Jordan's efforts in interfaith dialogue, stressing the need for joint efforts to spread the values of peace and tolerance.

"We have systematically worked on easing intra- and inter-religious tensions, which pose a serious threat to our collective security," he said.

The King discussed the 2004 Amman Message initiative, which is "intended to spread harmony and love among the world's 1.5 billion Muslims. And it has been supported by recognised religious scholars throughout the Muslim world".

He also referred to "A Common Word" initiative, an open letter by 138 Muslim scholars to the leaders of the Christian churches to promote Muslim-Christian harmony.

The letter calls for "Love of God" and "Love of the Neighbour", which is shared by the three monotheistic religions, "as a joint platform for peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians".

"This year, Jordan took the message of religious peace and love to the whole world. We did so by initiating ‘World Interfaith Harmony Week', which will be held the first week of February each year."

King Abdullah said it will be “a voluntary occasion for people to express their own religious teachings about tolerance, respect for others and peace”.

“I also look forward to cooperating with the EU to promote this initiative, by sponsoring activities that recognise countries which take part in it,” the King said.

At the conclusion of the session, the EPP, the largest bloc in the European Parliament, consisting of 72 parties from 39 European countries, adopted a statement to encourage interfaith dialogue.

The statement adopted the text of the “A Common Word” open letter calling for tolerance of difference, mutual respect and fairness.

“Let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works,” the statement said.

In his address, the King also spoke of the importance of joint cooperation to achieve peace in the Middle East on the basis of a two-state solution, as “nothing less can bring the regional, and indeed the global stability, we need in today's dangerous era”.

“For Palestinians, it is a secure future, in an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state on their own national soil,” he noted. “For Israelis, it is the real security that acceptance and normal relations bring, not just with immediate neighbours, but with 57 Arab and Muslim countries, one-third of the UN.”

“For the Middle East, it is the security of a region at peace, able to devote resources to development and progress, and for the global community, it is the security of a global alliance for moderation and justice,” he said.

The King praised Europe's role in supporting negotiations and helping Palestinians build institutions, calling for a new activity to address the rapid changes.

“If negotiations do not succeed, the two-state solution, the only solution that can work, might not be possible,” he warned.

“If that hope is killed, we can anticipate much more vicious warfare. Europe, the US and other countries have already been dragged into regional conflicts. New catastrophic scenarios would only drag the world in deeper,” he said.

King Abdullah highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, stressing that a “healthy economic balance in the Euro-Med neighbourhood” is a central issue.

Referring to the Arab region's largely young population, he said “an opportunity-rich future is one of the most effective answers to extremist agitation”.

“We know the way ahead. There must be reform; there must be effective, innovative development assistance; there must be much more direct investment. For this we need Europe's continued, active partnership,” he said.

The King said Jordan's advanced status with the EU will help “create opportunity and boost integration with European standards and structures”.