SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ‘ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS’ AIMED

AT BRIDGING DIVIDES BETWEEN SOCIETIES EXPLOITED BY EXTREMISTS

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the launch of an initiative for an “Alliance of Civilizations”.  The initiative is intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community -- both at the institutional and civil society levels -- to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace.  The Alliance will aim to address emerging threats emanating from hostile perceptions that foment violence, and to bring about cooperation among various efforts to heal such divisions.

Events of recent years have heightened the sense of a widening gap and lack of mutual understanding between Islamic and Western societies -- an environment that has been exploited and exacerbated by extremists in all societies.  The Alliance of Civilizations is intended as a coalition against such forces, as a movement to advance mutual respect for religious beliefs and traditions, and as a reaffirmation of humankind’s increasing interdependence in all areas -- from the environment to health, from economic and social development to peace and security.

The call for an alliance was initiated by Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain, and co-sponsored by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.  Both Governments will continue, as co-sponsors, to provide support.  Several other Governments and organizations have expressed interest in joining them, and the Secretary-General hopes that more will do so.  The co-sponsors have already pledged substantial initial contributions to a Trust Fund set up to finance the initiative, and the Secretary-General will be inviting other Governments and entities to contribute.

The Secretary-General is also bringing together a high-level group of eminent persons to guide the initiative.  The group is expected to present a report with recommendations and a practical plan of action in late 2006.

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