Deputy Secretary-General Commends Alliance of Civilizations for Generating

 

Interfaith Dialogue, Paving Way for Understanding in Time of Turmoil

 

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the ministerial meeting of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends, in New York today:

I thank you very warmly for this opportunity to address this important meeting at this crucial time.

I congratulate the High Representative and his colleagues for the success of the Bali Global Forum, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told me how pleased he was to see Governments working with, not least, civil society to create greater global solidarity.

The Bali Forum showed a growing appreciation that we need dialogue across cultural and religious lines to combat extremism and promote inclusive peace.  Maybe now more than in a very long time.  I think it is urgent that we move in this direction.

Two days ago, at the General Assembly, the Secretary-General spoke out against the rise of divisive politics, as you may recall.  He made the point that people are very good at seeing prejudice in others — but they are not so good at seeing their own bias.

The Security Council also just took up the threat of extremism and terrorism at the meeting chaired by [ United States] President [Barack] Obama on foreign terrorist fighters.

This emerging threat is symptomatic of deeper problems.  A great number of young people are disillusioned.  They often feel no hope.  Trust in institutions is minimal or sometimes non-existent.

We have to provide them, the young people, with education and jobs.  But, even more, we have to provide young people with an understanding of our common humanity, our common destiny — in fact, our common survival.

These divisive trends have to be stopped.  When you divide people in categories along religious or ethnic, or sectarian or tribal lines, it’s a great step backwards in human history.  We have to notice these tendencies and act early on.  If you wait, you pay a very heavy price, and above all, a lot of people around the world will suffer.  These tendencies mean we are departing from the UN Charter, which states the equal value, equal worth, of all.  Because, if you start to divide people into us and them, you put a stamp of quality on yourself vis-à-vis others.  In the “us and them” syndrome, the “us” is practically always qualitatively higher than the “them”.  And then you build up biases which can lead to horrible things, as we’ve seen far too often.  These tendencies are apparent now — we must act now.

The majority of the world’s citizens are far from extreme.  They want peaceful lives.  They want decent living conditions.  They want a life in dignity.  But because of the new nature of conflict — asymmetrical, with small groups terrorizing populations — this majority of citizens, who are just wanting to live normal lives, is not sufficient to address this very dangerous threat.

A small, but disturbing, number of individuals are dominating the narrative with extremist views, and also now using modern social media very effectively.  They are using these media to amplify their messages, promoting repulsive images of what they call victories.  When they are beheading people in front of the cameras, they call those “victories”.  But, we all know that these so-called “victories”, in fact, are criminal acts, and a defiance of human decency and the principles on which this organization is founded.

Too many of these atrocious crimes are committed in the name of God — though they are an affront to the spirit of the faiths that these terrorists pretended to champion.  Muslims around the world have raised their voices to denounce these cowardly acts.  They rightly feel dismayed that their religion is being perverted to serve the violent goals of extremist groups.

These positive forces must be heard, must set examples, and above all, must try to reach out to young people.  We need to amplify these voices of these moderate forces — Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and other faith communities.  And I know, Mr. High Representative, that you work very much with such religious and community leaders. They are crucial in this struggle.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and I look to you, Mr. High Representative, to continue your work in promoting dialogues that bring together people from different cultures, religion and other groups.

We appreciate the Alliance’s efforts to help young people.  When I participated in the Alliance’s Summer Schools, I was encouraged by the engagement, sincerity and shared humanity of so many young people.

They are part of an increasing number of youth who are rising up against injustice, countering the discourse of hate and joining forces for peace.

I commend the Alliance for its Youth Solidarity Fund and other initiatives to help young people engage in politics and policymaking.  I commend the cooperation with the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, AhmedAlhendawi.  I thank all the donors that make this work possible.

I also welcome the Alliance’s work with the United Nations Department of Political Affairs.  [The Department’s] regional bureaus have had valuable conversations with Alliance staff about the potential for engagement in specific geographical settings.  And I hope this cooperation will intensify in the future.

In closing, I have seen the power of intercultural understanding, which can lead to diplomatic breakthroughs.  I remember one negotiation I led with two Muslim countries.  At one stage, we were pushing for a withdrawal and a ceasefire,

and we referred to the Quran to support our call.  We cited a sura that says that, if the enemy turns his back to you, you are not allowed to attack him.  Our interlocutors heeded this call.  Interfaith understanding contributed to a breakthrough.

The Alliance of Civilizations is generating interfaith and intercultural dialogues that can pave the way for greater understanding.  At a time of turmoil and at a time of suffering around the world this is a mission more important than ever.

I thank you very much for your work and I hope you will have full support of Member States, regional organizations and civil society in this extremely important work at this very dramatic time.

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For information media • not an official record