A 15-member Jordanian delegation participated in the First International Levant Gathering Conference which was held in Lebanon on October 14-15, under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Aoun. The conference was organized by Secretary General of Levant Gathering Habib Afram in the presence of Lebanese. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Gebran Bassil and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elie Farazli, Charge d'Affaires of the Jordanian Embassy in Lebanon Wafa' Al-Atyam, and a large number of people from several Arab and foreign countries.

The Jordanian delegation consisted of Dr. Kamel Abu Jaber, Member of the Upper House of Parliament Rabha Dabbas, Engineer Sami Halaseh, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, Dr. Samir Qtami, Ghazi Quwar, Sami Quwar, George Hazou and Farah Shnouda.

The first speaker was Head of Department of Dialogue with Islam in the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Monsignor Khaled Akasheh said, "The East is a homeland for its children of different races, religions and sects. This pluralism is also cultural and linguistic." He stressed that "the East, without its Christians or with a few of them, is poor and weak because it loses an inherent and essential component. This is not because the Christians are better than the Muslims, but because Christians and Muslims are brethren and they complement each other.

Monsignor Khaled Akasheh pointed out that the Christians and the Muslims of the East have been protecting each other over the past hundreds of years, which is the quality inherited from our fathers and grandfathers and a reflection of noble Oriental values which imply respect for neighbors, generosity and hospitality. He also pleaded with the Almighty God "to protect our East and promote brotherhood among all its components so as to maintain peace, security, development and prosperity."

Fr. Bader called, in his intervention, for Jordanian-Lebanese cooperation in the field of values and dialogue among religions and cultures, especially at a time when the two countries represent positive cases of maintaining equality among all their ethnic, religious or sectarian components. He also touched on the process of dialogue in Jordan and the initiatives issued and adopted by the world, the most notable of which are the Amman Message 2004, a Common Word Between Us and You 2007, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2010. He added that all these initiatives share the same motive, namely promotion of peace, harmony, brotherhood, and love in the world.

Fr. Bader highlighted some points that entrench joint cooperation among the Mashriq countries in general, and between Lebanon and Jordan in particular. He said: "The two peoples are friends, and the two countries are sacred as Lord Jesus Christ lived there for some time. These countries also share receiving displaced persons and refugees regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations. Pope Francis praised these two countries which are rightly called: "the two countries welcoming refugees". He called on the brethren in Lebanon to "adopt the Jordanian dialogue initiatives and curtail the Christian immigration from the East, since the defense of pluralism is definitely a defense of the authentic identity of the East."

Dr. Kamel Abu Jaber said that Arab governments are doing their utmost to curtail the scourge of extremism and intolerance, noting we ought to give special attention to education because it is the key to a safe and a bright future free from bigotry and its ramifications.

On the other hand, Sami Halaseh stressed the need to set joint strategies for cooperation among governments and international organizations designed to consolidate and enhance the Christian presence in the Arab east.

The delegation from Palestine consisted of Director General of the Palestinian National Fund and President of the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs in Palestine Ramzi Khoury, Director General of the Presidential Committee Ambassador Amira Hanania, Palestinian Ambassador to the Holy See Issa Kassisia, Advisor to the Advisory Council of the Custody of the Holy Land Father Ibrahim Faltas, and Palestinian Ambassador to Denmark Manuel Hassassian.

During a banquet held following the opening of the conference, several participants were honored especially Fr. Khaled Akasheh and Dr. Ramzi Khoury. At the opening session, Lebanese President Michel Aoun had announced the establishment of the Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue in Lebanon after having attained the approval of more than 165 countries at the United Nations, President Aoun said: "Students from different religions and cultures will live together and get educated together. They will undoubtedly find out that they are similar despite their differences. They will consequently convey their experience to their surroundings."