General Assembly Opens Two-Day High Level Dialogue on Interreligious, Intercultural Understanding, Cooperation for Peace

October 12, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Media-Newswire/United Nations

http://media-newswire.com/release_1055608.html

Opening the United Nations first ever High-Level Dialogue on interfaith and intercultural understanding, top officials from the world body today challenged Member States to embrace rather than reject what seemed "different" in members of other ethnic, religious or social groups, and to recognize that living together in a globalized world implied a commitment to promoting "unity in diversity" and to the free and honest exchange of ideas and knowledge.

"In this era of globalization, we have the unrivalled opportunity and responsibility to replace intolerance and discrimination with understanding and mutual acceptance," said General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim, who urged all nations to work harder at eliminating the distorted notions that "deepen barriers and widen divides." An open and sustained dialogue, respect for freedom of expression and religion or belief was fundamental to that endeavour. By hosting the event, the Assembly was taking an important stand to reaffirm the values enshrined in the Charter and, "more importantly, we are taking concrete steps to advance these values around the world."

Stressing the United Nations "crucial role" in promoting talks and advancing the "fundamental freedom that we must all respect others' religions and beliefs," he underscored that, in doing so, "we should also recognize that a crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against religion; and that religion should not be used as a pretext for war." He also said that Governments could do their part by adopting educational curricula that instilled the values of peace and tolerance. "Children are not born with prejudice, it is learned," he said.

"To make peace, some people believe that you need to forget. From my own experience, I would suggest that reconciliation is a fair compromise between remembering and forgetting," said Mr. Kerim, who is from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The only means to achieve that was through intensive dialogue, at the political, cultural and social level. "Going forward then, let us each respect the uniqueness of each other's perspective, so that, together, we can honour the rich diversity of humanity," he said.