From Confidence Building Towards Co-operative Co-existence

September 11, 2001, illustrated dramatically just how important it is to overcome political and intellectual barriers between the West and the Islamic world. But how can we be sure that relations between Europe and the Muslim states in the Asian part of the OSCE area do not run into civilizationary confrontation? The secular-Islamic confidence-building project was conducted in the form of informal discussions between leading Islamic and secular representatives. The project’s most significant findings are as follows: Compromise, co-operation and coexistence between a secular government and Islamic politicians and parties are possible. A politics of non-violence can be established as an alternative to mutual hostility and repression. And finally, it is all the more important to seek and achieve peace and compromise with radical forces. Consequently, confidence-building can be seen as an important peaceful alternative element for the solution of the dilemma of terrorism. This volume contains a series of essays that shed light on different aspects of the dialogue process and the document "Confidence-building Measures” signed by the Tajik and European project participants in December 2003.