Muslims, Christians discuss cooperation

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Madagascar: Indo-Pakistani Muslims, prelate discuss cooperation <p>MADAGASCAR Excerpt from report by Malagasy independent newspaper L'Express de Madagascar web site on 1 August<p>A bizarre spectacle took place late afternoon yesterday in Andohalo <br>[Antananarivo] when a delegation of "Karana" [person of Indo-Pakistani origin] was seen leaving the Catholic archbishop's palace <br>where obviously they had a meeting with the cardinal archbishop of Antananarivo, Armand Gaetan Razafindratandra, a dignitary of the <br>Christian Council of Churches in Madagascar, FFKM, who was instrumental in President [Marc] Ravalomanana's accession to power. <p>Even though the delegation did not talk much, it emerged that the meeting was initiated by the "Karana" Sunni and Ismaili Muslim communities "who paid a courtesy visit to talk about ways and means for these communities to cooperate with the FFKM in the common task of national reconstruction". <p>"Religious officials were part of our delegation. The meeting was placed under the seal of religious ethics. Whatever the religion, the moral rules, such as love of one's neighbour, are the same. If you are referring to political action, be aware that we also contributed to the change [of political regime], as each and everyone of us aspired to greater desire for cohabitation in a country which is also <br>our native soil"... <p>L'Express de Madagascar web site, Antananarivo, in French 1 Aug 02/ BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC<br>