The seventh Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) began in Baku with the participation of a large number of heads of state and government, ministers and representatives of international bodies and organisations, business and youth sectors, civil society, universities and research centres.
HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud headed the Qatari delegation to the forum themed, “Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and A Goal.”
Delivering the inaugural speech, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev emphasised the role of UNAOC on the issues of dialogue, understanding, tolerance and co-existence between cultures and religions.
He also confirmed his country’s support for each of these values that it believes in.
The Azerbaijani president underlined that security, peace, tolerance and co-existence are the principles for understanding among peoples, which require the support of everyone in this regard for the alliance and for the establishment of new foundations for peace.
In his speech, President Aliyev demanded Armenia to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh region and to comply with Security Council resolutions in this regard.
For his part, HE the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilisations Nassir bin Abdulaziz al-Nasser said that the alliance has become an influential force in making the world safe and free from terrorism and extremism by encouraging understanding between cultures and launching of programmes and initiatives that support these goals.
He said that the theme of the forum is consistent with the UN pillars regarding the security, safety, establishment of a state of law and institutions and sustainable development, which he said will not be achieved without peace and security. “It is also an opportunity to reduce unemployment, especially among youth, and minimise terrorist operations and extremism, calling for the study of its causes and to listen to young people as partners and leaders, especially since their participation is a key element in the face of these risks.
He warned that the experience proved the failure of many short-sighted approaches in this context, pointing out that extremism grows when human rights are violated.
HE al-Nasser emphasised on the need to work and exert concerted efforts with the United Nations to resist violence and terrorism through approach integration, pointing out that the alliance works on these approaches in the face of such challenges.
He called for supporting the UN Secretary-General’s plan to combat terrorism, stand up against all forms of bipolarity and violence and resist all forms of hatred.
He also addressed the suffering of immigrants and bad impacts of crises and conflicts, as well as how the youth were in danger of being attracted by terrorist groups.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the important role UNAOC plays in carrying out the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind and addressing the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism.
Division and exclusion only play into the hands of the extremists, but what they really want to destroy is our common ground, he stressed.
“Stereotyping is dangerous and destabilising. Sensationalism may sell papers, but it does not solve problems,” he said.
Representatives of more than 140 countries are attending the forum.