Violent Extremism Endangers Muslims, Non-Muslims Alike, while Undermining Economic, Social Progress of Arab Wold, Secretary-General Warns

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Staffan de Mistura, his Special Envoy for Syria, to the International Conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East, in Athens today:

I thank the Government of Greece for hosting this important and timely initiative.  The history of the Middle East is characterized by coexistence and pluralism.  Today, however, the region’s civil wars, unresolved conflicts, particularly between Palestinians and Israelis, ethnic and confessional tensions, and the unprecedented and growing level of violent extremism are endangering Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and directly undermining economic and social progress for the Arab world.

An immediate impact has been the largest displacement of people since the Second World War, more than half of whom are Syrians.  The impact is keenly felt in Syria’s neighbours and throughout Europe, including here in Greece, presenting grave challenges for refugees and host communities.  The killing and massive displacement of civilians from various ethnic and faith groups is changing the fabric of societies and undermining their traditional coexistence.  This is compounded by an education crisis that is affecting millions of children and youth.  An entire generation is at risk of unemployment and social exclusion.

Violent extremists often deliberately target communities — Shiites, Sunnis, Yazidis, Christians, Jews and others — who differ from them.  They destroy their cultural references, including heritage sites, books and manuscripts, places of worship and learning, and deny their traditional practices.  UNESCO [United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization] rightly describes this phenomenon as “cultural cleansing”.  I will be presenting my Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism to the General Assembly early next year.

The impact of the conflicts in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the urgent need to deal seriously with the root causes of these human tragedies.  As well as seeking political settlements of debilitating conflicts, such as those in Syria and Yemen, and implementing a number of Security Council resolutions related to the Middle East, there are a number of long-term steps that should be taken to help stabilize the regional political landscape and to prevent identity-based politics and conflicts from blocking further progress in the region.

We must vigorously promote democratic governance, with respect for justice, tolerance and freedom of expression.  Each nation should also define the relationship between religion and State that best reflects its values, but is also within the context of universal principles and equal rights for all.