1999: * NANKANA SAHIB AND VATICAN :
New York, August 14, 1999 : More than 300 Sikh community leaders from around the globe convened
today at New York City's JFK Airport Ramada Plaza Hotel Ballroom for the International Sikh Seminar
of the Committee for "Vatican-like" status for Gurdwara Nankana Sahib. The committee met to
discuss issues surrounding the establishment of preferred status for the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
The seminar was a non-governmental, noncontroversial, religious initiative designed to facilitate
dialogue about giving "Vatican-like" status to one of Sikhism's holiest sites."As a Pakistani I am proud
to support this seminar in the spirit of strengthening positive relations between Pakistan and the
Sikhs," said A Sheikh, coordinator of the Committee for "Vatican-like" status. "An understanding of this
importance has not occurred since the creation of the Vatican in 1929."A special international status
(similar to the 1929 concord between the Vatican and Italy) will allow the three million Sikh diaspora
(Sikhs outside of India) to invest in local infrastructure and participate in the maintenance and
reconstruction of the hallowed site. What is more, it is hoped that this will help ease tensions
between India and Pakistan.
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