Secretary-General Says ‘We Need to Reject Extremism, Counter Those Who Polarize

and Distort’, in Message to Non-Aligned Movement at Interfaith Dialogue Summit

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation in Manila, 17 March:

President [Gloria] Macapagal-Arroyo,

Mr. President of the United Nations General Assembly [Ali Abdussalam Treki],

Foreign Minister [Alberto] Romulo,

Distinguished ministers,

Excellencies,

Mr. Secretary-General of the World Conference on Religions for Peace [William F. Vendley],

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to send greetings to this special Non-Aligned Movement meeting on interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

Peace, development and human rights all depend on mutual understanding and respect.

Many members of the Non-Aligned movement have ample experience in bridging religious differences.  I urge you to use that experience to promote dialogue wherever it is needed.

I also hope you will support the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

The Alliance’s Youth Solidarity Fund brings together young people from different cultural backgrounds.

Its Rapid Response Media Mechanism brings experts to the airwaves, to serve as a voice of moderation at times of crisis.

The Alliance is also a clearing house for information, ideas and best practices on education about religions and beliefs.

To all of you supporting these initiatives, I say thank you.

And to all members of the Non-Aligned Movement, I say we need to do more.

We need to reject extremism.  We need to counter those who polarize and distort, or who humiliate and manipulate for electoral aims.  We have had enough mutual suspicion and fear.

The wonderfully diverse members of your Movement can do much to forge greater understanding.  And that understanding can be the foundation for a better future and a world of peaceful coexistence.

In that spirit, I wish you success at this important special meeting.

Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record