It is not a community which excludes but one which is designed to spread beyond the confines of their teachings. As was rightly pointed out during this seminar by Prof. Serracino Inglott, wars and hostility between the three religions in the Mediterranean basin are historical accidents rather than the result of inevitable differences . For the aim steeped in the the scriptures of the three religions was not one of confrontation but one of community. Manifestations of these faiths may be different but in essence the sense of community they propagate is common to all. The right to education is a noble ideal and a fundamental human right integral to the notion of human dignity.
Education is also the key to freedom.
It frees the individual and society from the scourge of ignorance, an ignorance which breeds prejudice and intolerance an ignorance which mistakes the outward manifestations of the different faiths for the fundamental messages that they propagate. Education opens the doors to a world of opportunity and understanding. Education teaches us to explore those universal values which unite us and not to exploit those differences which set us apart. This has always been the ultimate purpose of education the building of a society able to appreciate and understand the universality of values we share in our region, and in our world. In this respect, the role of the universities and academic institutions from around the Mediterranean is an important one in seeking to engage in constructive and sincere dialogue.