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H.E. MR NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER, UNITED NATIONS
HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS
In order for the international community to effectively meet the challenges ahead – from climate change and
water access to human migration flows and an increasingly interdependent global economy – we must recognize
that our future rests entirely on mutual cooperation. Mutual cooperation can only grow out of shared trust. To
me, as High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, this concept of shared trust is at the
heart of what the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures is about. In fact, the 10-year Action
Plan of the Decade unambiguously calls for results in four specific areas:
• promoting mutual understanding and reciprocal knowledge of cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious
diversity as well as supporting reconciliation efforts
• building a framework for commonly shared values which fosters social cohesion
• disseminating the principles and tools of intercultural dialogue through quality education and the media
• fostering dialogue for sustainable development and its ethical, social and cultural dimensions.
All four areas connect directly to the mission, vision and successful history of the United Nations Alliance of
Civilizations. Since its inception, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations has become a leading United
Nations platform for the promotion of intercultural dialogue, mediation processes, and fostering tolerance and
understanding to prevent violent conflict and facilitate reconciliation in post-conflict settings. It has connected
governments, local authorities, civil society organizations, the media and individuals devoted to promoting
understanding across diverse communities. The Alliance boasts a vast network of partners across sectors and
successful programmes in the areas of education, youth, migration and media.
From building on the understanding of the need for global consensus around respect for diversity, to enhancing
intercultural engagement across sectors and implementing partnership strategies for greater impact, much work
remains. We must be prepared to focus on efforts that build on successful real-world experiences which are themselves
the results of learning best practices, and we must always remember to be sensitive to context. The Alliance remains
ready to continue its efforts in support of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures.
H.E. Mr Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations