DEBATING DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS, ASSEMBLY HEARS CALLS TO ELIMINATE WIDESPREAD CULTURAL, NATIONAL MISCONCEPTIONS, STEREOTYPING

Press Release
GA/9818/

DEBATING DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS, ASSEMBLY HEARS CALLS TO ELIMINATE WIDESPREAD CULTURAL, NATIONAL MISCONCEPTIONS, STEREOTYPING

CORRECTION

In the correction to Press Release GA/9818, issued on 14 November, the statement of Azerbaijan should read:

ELDAR KOULIEV (Azerbaijan) said the fact that next year had been proclaimed the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations was symbolic, but that symbolism was not the product of chance. The international community should hold a dialogue on all areas in its drive to end confrontation and violence. Recently, there had been a revolution in many technological areas, among others in the area of communications. But there was also Huntington’s prediction of a clash between civilizations. It was that fear of confrontation which had prompted the current dialogue.

More and more, the world community sought understanding rather than confrontation. This era was characterized by globalization, not only in the economic and political fields, but culturally as well. More and more young people around the world were becoming followers of a generalized culture, a new system of values and behaviour patterns. He was concerned that the manufacturers of this “pop culture” were imposing their own views of culture. In consequence, a narrow image of Muslims as terrorists was now being promulgated. Terrorism, however, knew no boundaries. Azerbaijan had suffered from terrorism. Moreover, negative religious hatred could become a pretext for domination. The Muslim civilization had made a huge contribution to humankind and had introduced many new ideas. Islam was a religion uniting hundreds of millions of people and calling for respect for other religions, such as Christianity and Judaism.

In the last decade, his country had been drawn into a conflict with its neighbours. The proponents of that war tried to describe it as a struggle between religions and cultures. He rejected that notion. In his country, several religions lived peacefully together and enjoyed freedom. Citing examples from history -– such as the fact that, when Jews were being oppressed in Europe, they found shelter in a Turkic State –- he said such examples should inspire peace and coexistence. Respect for sovereignty should be the foundation for the current dialogue. No country in the world could claim the authorship of democracy and impose its own lifestyle on the rest. He said the Organization provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, but the genuine commitment of Member States to the dialogue was essential.

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