The 9th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations opened Tuesday in the city of Fez (Northeastern Morocco) and will run for two days (Nov. 22-23)
The event is co-chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and the High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos.
This Forum aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between the different communities, cultures and civilizations, and unite people by laying the bases for interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
The event is aimed primarily at developing a series of concrete actions for conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
The event is held in the presence of Advisor to the King André Azoulay, who read out a speech by King Mohammed VI.
Besides the attendance of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, official delegations, representatives of organizations, members of civil society and academics were also present.
The opening session was marked by a speech by Miguel Angel Moratinos who underlined that “we are not facing a clash of civilizations. The world of the 21st century is global and interconnected. We are one humanity facing multiple global challenges.”
He went on to say that “the Alliance of Civilizations can precisely serve as a platform to facilitate understanding, comprehension and respect for each of our cultures and civilizations.”
Moratinos stressed that the Alliance can and should be an initiative that studies and discovers the thousands of similarities and synergies that exist both at the philosophical- religious and practical levels among the different cultures and religions.
He concluded by saying that the “Alliance of Civilizations must become an Alliance of Civilizations for Peace.”