General Assembly Session 56 meeting 40

The President

I should like to inform members that, in letters dated 8 and 22 October 2001 addressed to the President of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Western European and other States for the month of October, requests that the General Assembly hear, in plenary meeting, statements by the observer for the Holy See and the observer of Switzerland in the debate on agenda item 25, "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations".

Taking into account the importance attached to the issue under discussion, it is proposed that the General Assembly take a decision on those requests.

May I take it that there is no objection to the proposal to hear the observer for the Holy See and the observer of Switzerland in the debate on agenda item 25?

Mr. Belkhadem (Algeria)

Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly. This well-deserved honour attests to your diplomatic skills and to your personal commitment to the strengthening of the United Nations. It also represents a recognition of the positive role played by your country, whose well-known economic dynamism is complemented by ongoing efforts towards peace and international cooperation.

I should like also to recall the importance that my country, Algeria, attaches to the peaceful reunification of Korea and to welcome the promising efforts deployed in this regard by the Government of the Republic of Korea and by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, you are guiding our work at a time when the United Nations is taking up once again its natural role as a key player in order to meet the various challenges confronting humanity. The fact that this year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Secretary-General Kofi Annan and to our Organization is testimony of the invaluable contribution they have made to the quest for peace and understanding among peoples, and it also strengthens our conviction that the United Nations has an irreplaceable role to play as a framework for collective action for peace, security and development. The fact that a new mandate has been given to Mr. Kofi Annan assures us that the necessary work of renewal will continue -- work he has, in fact, been doing since he took the helm of the Organization.

The proclamation of the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations is without a doubt a milestone in the history of humankind. By duly recognizing the contributions made by all civilizations to the humanization of societies, it demonstrates the common will to work together to develop and consolidate the foundations of a world of understanding, amity and interaction.

President Khatami set out, in a very succinct and lucid manner, guidelines for the dialogue among civilizations -- a dialogue that today has top priority. The rise of extremism and terrorism has emphasized the topical nature of this concept, and has prompted us to reflect once again on prospects for the future -- a future that will make sense only if we face it in a spirit of interdependence and of solidarity.

There is no yellow peril. There is no green peril. The only peril we are facing is that of intolerance, which is certainly not inherent to any particular religion or civilization. The greatest peril is that of hatred and rejection of the other.

The dialogue among civilizations was the subject, a year ago, of a round table organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. That event took place at United Nations Headquarters, here in this building, which symbolizes the many common battles we have had to wage as well as the common aspirations of humanity as a whole. The participation of President Bouteflika in that round table also was testimony of Algeria's contribution, throughout history, to efforts to bring people together and of its commitment to pursue this noble endeavour in future.

Algeria has always been a meeting place for cultural interaction in the Mediterranean region, even back when the lake of peace that we are trying to create today was a confluent for the entire world.

From St. Augustine to Emir Abdelkader, Algeria's contributions over the years to the development of universal spirituality, tolerance and culture have made us more attuned to contemporary problems and more desirous to work towards their resolution and to promote a new kind of humanism -- one that is based on the diversity of civilizations and cultures and on the unity of humankind.

Algeria has always been, and today more than ever wishes to be, a place of openness, interaction and understanding. It is working to harmonize its own individual characteristics with universal values.

The history of humanity, which is peppered not only with major accomplishments and great works but also with mistakes, upheavals and tragedies, has helped human beings, in all their diversity, to evolve so as to coexist peacefully and harmoniously with others in a pluralistic, open and tolerant atmosphere.

The present generation, which is the result of various historical upheavals, is more aware than ever before of the importance of this diversity, which also helps us to become closer to, and learn from, one another. This is reflected very eloquently in the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, which proclaimed the determination of the international community to eliminate the scourge of war, which has brought untold sorrow and has left indelible marks on humanity as a whole.

The era of confrontation existed only because extremist forces were able to prevail against the backdrop of suspicion and exclusion. The collective reaction of human beings is reconciliation if they are given the opportunity to promote dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding. To know others is to move towards them, to understand and better know them -- in short, to appreciate and respect one another so as to grow closer.

To this end, we must talk to each other more in order better to understand each other and to learn mutual respect. We must be able to live together without clashing in order simply to coexist peacefully within the increasingly narrow confines of our planet.

We do not believe that there are good and bad civilizations, that some civilizations are superior to others or that others have congenital flaws, whereas others can be predominant and held up as the single model to follow. Rather, we are of the view that civilizations are complementary, that they nourish each other and that they converge towards universal values that are shared by the whole of humanity. Islam, a religion of peace and tolerance, like all other revealed religions, gave rise to a brilliant civilization that covers a vast geographic area within which people of all races live united by a common faith while respecting the faith and way of life of others.

No one can have any doubts that today we are witnessing the growing spread of a universal civilization that is but the result of the numerous contributions and experiences made by various human civilizations since the dawn of time. If the words globalization and Internet are on everyone's lips, it is because they have been translated into every language. But, propelled primarily by economic dynamics, one language in particular has dominated this universal civilization. While it is also true that major works, and even much lesser ones, are frequently translated into numerous languages from such languages as Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew and Persian, it must not be forgotten that dozens of languages are dying as a result of having lost the battle against the universal.

The irresistible momentum towards the universal has therefore produced victims similar to those left behind by globalization. But the cultural and spiritual wealth of humankind stems from its diversity. While we can all subscribe to the idea that, as far as economic development is concerned, the superiority of the law of markets has been proved in history, the standardization of thought and cultural and religious exclusion cannot but lead to an impoverishment of the mind and the soul. In that context, while the "end of history" may have seemed an academic controversy in a Western world sated with its material comfort, for the excluded and marginalized in many regions of our world it is a concrete, tragic reality and must be dealt with strongly. That is what was rightly asserted by the former Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Mr. Federico Mayor, when he said that no country is so large that it can do without others, and no country is so small that it has nothing to contribute to others.

Having classified them as the common patrimony of mankind, UNESCO has under its protection historical sites threatened by natural phenomena and human plundering; but what are we to do for those cultures threatened by indifference and exclusion? Of course, not all cultures and civilizations different from the dominant culture are condemned to disappear. Some, as if emerging from a stupor, are awakening. That awakening should not be perceived as a threat to the dominant culture, but rather as a new boon that strengthens the universal civilization, benefiting all people and spreading beyond man-made borders, which the march of history has a tendency to blur.

In order for that kind of development to be understood and encouraged, it is necessary to establish and pursue a true dialogue among civilizations. As Roger Garaudy said about 25 years ago, there will be true dialogue only when everyone is convinced at the outset that we all have something to learn from one another. There will be true dialogue among civilizations only if everyone is imbued with the conviction that the other is what he is missing in order to be a complete human being.

The inevitable references in our proceedings to the painful and tragic attacks of 11 September remind us that the dialogue among civilizations to which we aspire is not without impact on the daily lives of millions of human beings. If we want that dialogue to draw upon the values and noble achievements of the human heart and spirit that have been most cherished since mankind began the historical journey that jolted it from its natural state, that dialogue must not remain confined to colloquiums, symposiums and seminars devoted to specialists, philosophers and scientists, even though such people certainly contribute a great deal to such dialogue.

For that dialogue to truly permeate all areas of teaching, learning, culture and active life, and for it to be an essential component of human relations, Governments must assume their responsibilities, which complement, naturally, those of civil society, international institutions, the media and religious authorities. In this regard, it is a welcome development that many meetings that heretofore have been devoted entirely to political and economic issues -- such as those of the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Euro-Mediterranean Forum -- have decided to include the dialogue among civilizations in their future agendas. As the ideal framework for dialogue and the settlement of conflict, the United Nations has an essential role to play in promoting, improving and deepening this dialogue, to which everyone can, and should, make his contribution.

By being a sponsor of the draft resolution entitled "Global agenda for dialogue among civilizations", which has been introduced in the General Assembly, Algeria is demonstrating its faith in its cultural heritage and its belief in the universal cultural mission of that heritage. Algeria is also prepared to make its contribution, and reiterates its willingness to organize meetings to promote the very noble ideals that have brought us together here. Ensuring the future of those ideals requires the participation and contributions of all.

Mr. Shen Guofang (China)

This year is the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. At the outset, I would like to thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for its initiative to discuss this issue at the United Nations. For its contribution, which is very useful to the deliberations on this item, my thanks also go to the Group of Eminent Persons on the Dialogue among Civilizations selected by the Secretary-General.

In the long process of its development, mankind has created diversified civilizations that have, in no small way, served to enhance the progress of human society. Due to differences in historical background, geographical conditions and cultural traditions, human civilizations have demonstrated much diversity and dissimilarity through their development. The exchange and blending of that diversity and dissimilarity have, in turn, become an inexorable historical trend, as well as a necessity for the improvement and continued development of civilizations. It is through that process that human society has achieved continuous progress and development.

In the history of mankind, there have been circumstances in which one civilization has rejected other civilizations and has attempted to force one set of values upon others. However, such attempts have all ended in failure because they went against the historical trend of human development. History has demonstrated that there is no need to be worried about the differences and disputes among civilizations. Rather, we should adopt an appropriate attitude towards them. There are no superior or inferior civilizations in this world. On the contrary, they are equal. The peaceful coexistence and the common development of different civilizations can be achieved only through their learning and benefiting from each other on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Profound changes are taking place in the current international situation. With the further multipolarization of the world situation, economic globalization and the rapid development of technology, mankind faces unprecedented opportunities for development, as well as a series of global issues, such as environmental deterioration, terrorism, refugees, poverty and the widening gap between the North and the South.

Under these circumstances, countries should demonstrate a more open mind and broader vision in conducting the dialogue among civilizations and resolve disputes and differences by peaceful means. We should demonstrate the willingness to respect and live with different civilizations, promote the development of the cream of human civilizations and together face the challenges of economic globalization, so as to establish relations based on equality, mutual benefit, mutual trust and cooperation among countries and to achieve lasting peace, stability and prosperity in all countries.

The terrorist attack of 11 September on the United States was a barbaric act that destroyed human lives and is a serious threat to international peace and security. It has nothing in common with human civilization. The fight launched against terrorism by the international community is not a clash among races, religions or cultures, but a struggle between justice and evil, between civilization and barbarism. All countries must shoulder their responsibility to fight all manifestations of terrorism.

The United Nations, as the sole universal international Organization, represents the diversity of the world's civilizations and is a forum for all civilizations. It plays a unique role in promoting the dialogue among civilizations. In this context, I wish to make the following points.

First, the United Nations should conduct the dialogue among civilizations at the political level, in order to remove the negative impact of the cold-war mentality from international relations, promote the principle of democracy and equality in international affairs and advance the establishment of a just and equitable new international political order.

Secondly, the United Nations should conduct the dialogue among civilizations at the economic level in order to become fully aware of the difficulties and the problems countries face, particularly the developing countries, in the economic globalization process; formulate an effective strategy of global economic cooperation, in accordance with the historical conditions and the socio-economic realities of the various countries and regions; and enable people from different civilizations to benefit from globalization, thereby creating a win-win situation.

Thirdly, in the social and cultural domains, the United Nations should raise awareness within the international community on the need to respect and promote the diversity of civilizations; enhance the protection of cultural treasures; use modern means to spread and further develop the advanced and progressive aspects of human civilizations; and encourage people of all countries, particularly the youth, to carry out cultural exchanges of all kinds, so as to create greater prospects for the development of diversified civilizations in the world.

China has always attached importance to strengthening exchange and dialogue among countries and civilizations. Last February, the Chinese delegation attended the Conference on Dialogue among Asian Civilizations, held in Iran, at which it stated the views and positions of the Chinese Government on this issue. Last September, Mr. Song Yian, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Chinese member of the United Nations Group of Eminent Persons on Dialogue among Civilizations, presided over the Twenty-first Century Forum -- Symposium on Dialogue among Civilizations, held in Beijing.

The Symposium carried out comprehensive and in-depth discussions, focusing on three topics: the role of exchange among civilizations in promoting human historical development, the effect of dialogue among civilizations on the development of international relations and the role of the United Nations in promoting dialogue among civilizations. The summary of the Symposium has already been distributed as an official document (A/56/471) of this session of the General Assembly.

The Chinese Government and people stand ready to continue to make even greater contributions to strengthening dialogue and exchange among civilizations, as well as to the peace, progress and prosperity of the world.

Mr. Rangachari (India)

We thank the Secretary-General for his report (A/56/523) on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, a welcome initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We would like to express our appreciation to the eminent persons who collaborated in producing the book Crossing the Divide: Dialogue among Civilizations. We would also like to convey our appreciation to the Member States that have arranged events to give content and meaning to this United Nations Year.

As the year designated by the General Assembly as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations draws to a close, it seems appropriate that we reflect on the concepts and ideas that have emerged in this process.

Dialogue among civilizations is not new. It has existed since the earliest known civilizations. This dialogue, which spans many millennia, has blurred the boundaries of different civilizations. The world today cannot claim a finite number of distinct civilizations; it is, in fact, a multitude of overlapping cultures. Cultural intercourse, while blurring civilizational boundaries, has not, however, undermined the richness of cultural diversity.

Culture and civilization are not static. They change, in adaptation to changes in their environment. The process of seeking new solutions to emerging problems is a continuing one. The absorption of ideas from other cultures assists in this process.

While societies adopt the best practices of others, they also retain their own uniqueness. They do so because they instinctively feel a sense of belonging and of inheritance. They also do so because their own circumstances are never identical to those of others.

It has been stated, in some of the documentation of the Secretariat, that there are two groups of civilizations -- one which perceives diversity as a threat and the other which sees it as an opportunity. Such a differentiation is simplistic and dangerous. The dialogue among civilizations that has taken place over the years has eroded the ignorance caused by ethnocentrism and has led to the understanding that all human societies possess their respective civilization and culture.

It is but natural that each society would seek to protect and preserve its civilizational and cultural values. The dialogue process creates apprehension, even as it generates expectations. Apprehension is based on perceived attempts of one civilization, one culture -- derived from theories of superiority, and its obverse, inferiority -- to overwhelm another. The underlying assumption is that the superior will be stronger and will therefore prevail. Dialogue, however, leads us to the understanding that there is neither an inferior nor a superior civilization or culture. Civilizations are not the same. Each is unique in its evolution. Yet no one civilization will prevail over the other. There will be no end of history.

Civilizations are different from one another, but there is commonality in their values and achievements. Even in times when there was little communication between them, great civilizations of the past, in Asia, the Middle East and America, managed to create quite similar irrigation systems. Beyond the shared genetic material and evolution of technology, there is, and has always been, a similarity in approach that different civilizations have taken to issues of ethics. This is not surprising. Value systems have relevance to human situations, and there is the common strand of humanity which threads itself through all these situations. The right to life, for instance, enjoys primacy in all civilizations. There are others. Our dialogue, over the past half a century, has allowed these to be codified into internationally accepted instruments which serve to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. There is, at the same time, a difference in emphasis arising from civilizational and cultural ethos. It manifests itself in tension generated by the recognition of the universality of fundamental human rights juxtaposed with duties of individuals towards society and societal rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights speaks of rights as well as duties. There is, and there will always be, in every civilization, an attempt to find a balance between the individual and the larger common good.

Dialogue among civilizations has enlarged the common denominator of values and principles that we should be governed by. These include the values of liberal and participatory democracy, rule of law and tolerance. They should not be construed as an imposition, nor should one civilization or another claim proprietary rights over them. It can be argued, for instance, that the village republics of ancient India were the enlightened predecessors for modern-day concepts of decentralized and participatory political institutions.

It is this universality of human values that terrorism denies. The terrorist belongs to no civilization. He rejects tolerance and diversity, values central to all civilizations. The perpetrators of the acts of 11 September -- and those who perpetrate acts of terrorism elsewhere -- are the rejects of their own civilizations. Their identification can be only with the States that harbour, aid, abet and support them, and even glorify them. To allow terrorists and the States that nurture them to hijack our discourse would be to give them a legitimacy which belongs only to the civilized.

Over the centuries, India has been the meeting place of different cultures. The Indic civilization is the result of several cultural fusions. It encompasses the philosophical tenets of idealism and materialism, religion and secularism, an affirmation of its own identity and a willingness for integrative globalization. We cherish our tolerance; we celebrate our diversity. We do so because of our belief in, and acceptance of, the fundamental unity of all humanity. As Mahatma Gandhi said:

"I do not want my house to be walled on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any of them."

The dialogue among civilizations should continue. It will, we hope, contribute to greater harmony among civilizations.

Mr. Al-Awdi (Kuwait)

We are debating today one of the most important items on the agenda of the General Assembly, concerning dialogue among civilizations. My delegation has studied the report on this item. In Kuwait the activities provided for in the report have given us an understanding of the importance attached to this dialogue at the governmental level, and at the level of the United Nations. This leads us to be optimistic about the dialogue, which will touch on every aspect of our lives.

In this connection, we in Kuwait are pleased with the activities organized by the United Nations to strengthen the concept of dialogue among civilizations, specifically the decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to establish this dialogue as a strategic objective of its medium-term plan for 2002-2007. We are also pleased that the personal representative of the Secretary-General for the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations has proceeded, in cooperation with important international personalities, to work out an agenda for the dialogue. This has encouraged a number of States and non-governmental organizations to deploy great efforts to support the dialogue among civilizations and to develop an international culture of peace, to which we all aspire. In this connection, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League and other organizations have also participated.

Kuwait has always supported the dialogue among civilizations through practical activities, and our Government has decided to support all General Assembly resolutions pertaining to it. We have also continued to carry out important activities and educational and cultural programmes, in cooperation with the rest of the international community, in celebrating 2001 as the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations.

It is important to underscore a number of other activities. Kuwait has signed several international treaties in connection with the national and governmental heritages of peoples. It has entered into bilateral agreements with friendly States to promote cooperation and exchange of educational and cultural programmes. For many years, Kuwait has been implementing programmes and plans at the national level to reinforce directly the dialogue among civilizations and to create continuous communication between Kuwait and other nations. This has also been accomplished through cultural programmes, annual arts festivals and the participation of Kuwaiti people in the strengthening of the dialogue among civilizations. Kuwait, for example, is organizing the al-Qareen cultural festival, an annual festival for children and an international book fair. It has also cooperated with international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations in the area of human rights to strengthen international peace and the dialogue among civilizations. Furthermore, there has been cooperation with friendly countries in the area of culture, education and science to develop positive dialogue among peoples. As the Arab cultural capital for 2001, Kuwait has sponsored a number of cultural and artistic activities and supported the programmes developed by UNESCO in this connection.

Kuwait has hosted 16 cultural programmes and exhibits, with the participation of the Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Switzerland. Many Arab countries have also participated. My country has also given exhibits abroad, in France, Algeria, Iran and Yemen. We are currently working with Japan to prepare a dialogue between the Gulf States and Japan. We have also played an important role, along with the rest of the international community, in supporting this United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and my delegation has reported on it in writing to the Secretary-General.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that, through this Organization, we, like other States, want to help guarantee peace, security and stability for all the peoples of the world. We also want to reiterate our support for the principles of the Charter in this area. These are principles that my country has underscored in the draft resolution to be examined by the General Assembly in the course of the debate on this agenda item. We are fully aware of the positive aspects this dialogue has at both levels, national and international, and in the foreign policy of our own Government. Also, following the events of 11 September, we wish to cooperate in the strengthening of this dialogue as a peaceful one and not as a clash among civilizations, as some people would like to portray it these days. It is indeed imperative to promote true understanding of all old civilizations, especially Islamic civilization, renounce terrorism and create in us, Arabs and Muslims, an understanding of all cultures and at all levels.

Lastly, I would like to refer to paragraph 19 of the Secretary-General's report on this item, which is applicable, especially following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001:

"This is all the more true in the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks, which represented the worst of humanity, whereas the dialogue seeks to enable and promote the best in humanity. A dialogue among civilizations is not only a necessary answer to terrorism -- it is in many ways its nemesis. Where terrorism seeks to divide humanity, the dialogue aims to unite us."

I would also like to commend the efforts of the Iranian Government regarding this dialogue and the draft resolution on this item.

Mr. Kafando (Burkina Faso)

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