General Assembly Session 61 meeting 47

The Acting President

The Assembly has before it a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), document A/61/175. I give the floor to the representative of the Philippines to introduce draft resolution A/61/L.11.

Mr. Baja (Philippines)

The rise of a number of initiatives on interfaith, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue and cooperation, evidenced by several international, interregional, regional and national events, represents growing global interest in the sustained implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace, a brainchild of Bangladesh, as well as the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations and its Programme of Action, an initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

During the last two years, the Philippine initiatives, supported by a large number of Member States, on interfaith dialogue, namely the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, held in New York on 22 June 2005, and the Informal Summit on Interfaith: Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, also held in New York on 13 September 2005, helped pave the way for the adoption of paragraph 144 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome by our leaders.

The leaders committed themselves to take action to promote a culture of peace and support initiatives on dialogue among cultures, civilizations and religions. This year, the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation was launched in New York on 24 March. The fourteenth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Havana, adopted a final document on 16 September recognizing the importance of interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace. The First Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, as well as the high-level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, were both held in New York during the United Nations International Day of Peace on 21 September.

At the regional level, the Cebu Dialogue among South-East Asian and Pacific countries adopted a Declaration on Regional Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, Development and Human Dignity on 16 March. The Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), held in Helsinki on 10-11 September, underlined the importance of the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue and recognized the value of the Alliance of Civilizations and the tripartite forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace. ASEM partners also adopted on 5 July in Larnaca, Cyprus, an Action Plan on Interfaith Understanding and Cooperation for a Peaceful World.

From the standpoint of civil society, the world saw the largest ever gathering of religious leaders in Kyoto last August under the auspices of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. Kazakhstan hosted last September in Astana the Second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The outcomes of both events reinforce and complement the conclusions of the forums of their intergovernmental counterparts.

Within the United Nations system, UNESCO agreed that interreligious dialogue is its flagship project for the biennium 2006-2007 under its intercultural dialogue programme. Moreover, there are several United Nations agencies, funds and programmes that include interreligious dialogue in their activities.

These expressions of the need for greater understanding, harmony and cooperation will continue to flourish and expand both in scale and scope. In fact, the latest initiative on the Alliance of Civilizations, co-sponsored by Spain and Turkey, is another testament to the need to involve all stakeholders in peace.

Allow me at this juncture, on behalf of the Philippines and Pakistan, to introduce draft resolution A/61/L.11, entitled "Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace". The Philippines and Pakistan decided to consolidate our respective draft resolutions under the agenda item on culture of peace, not only to respond to the need to streamline the work of the General Assembly in respect of interrelated draft resolutions, but more importantly to highlight the interconnected dimensions of religions and cultures in promoting a culture of peace.

The world, in particular the faith communities and their leaders and other stakeholders, is watching how we will address the culture of peace from the prism of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and cooperation. We hope the Assembly will adopt the draft resolution at an early opportunity so that we could move forward to implement concrete measures, particularly those mentioned in operative paragraphs 7 to 12. We warmly welcome the additional sponsorship by Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Cambodia, Congo, Costa Rica, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gabon, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Micronesia, Morocco, Myanmar, Senegal, the Sudan, Thailand and Timor-Leste, and look forward to further sponsorship and support from Member States.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh to introduce draft resolution A/61/L.16, which will be issued at a later date.

Mr. Chowdhury (Bangladesh)

I would be remiss if I began without expressing our deep appreciation to the Assembly President for convening a debate on the agenda item "Culture of peace". This item is close to every Bangladeshi heart. I am confident that the deliberations today, under the able stewardship of the President, will further strengthen our resolve to promote a culture of peace in the United Nations and beyond.

I thank the previous speaker, Ambassador Lauro Baja of the Philippines for providing full details of draft resolution A/61/L.11.

Recent history has witnessed a series of triumphs that humanity can justly be proud of. It has experienced, for example, the end of colonialism, the growth of civil society, the limiting of autocracy, the strengthening of democratic values and institutions, the rise of liberalism and the protection and promotion of human rights. Sadly, this period has also witnessed many tragedies. It has experienced unspeakable violence wreaked by wars, terror and conflicts. It has brought death, destruction and suffering to millions.

A culture of peace is an idea that encapsulates the very essence of the efforts to save humanity from the scourge of war and conflict. It is a set of values and attitudes, a mode of behaviour and a way of life to rid our communities of terror and violence. The process of a culture of peace is based on freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue.

The United Nations has been playing a crucial role in propagating peace over the decades of its existence. At the World Summit, our leaders reaffirmed the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. They also committed themselves to taking action to promote this programme at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Following last year's observance of the midpoint of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, we have entered into the second half of the Decade with great enthusiasm and vigour. This calls for renewal of commitments towards the noble goals of peace.

Bangladesh has always been at forefront of the initiatives that promote greater understanding and tolerance among peoples, which in our belief are achievable through dialogue and cooperation. Our attachment to a culture of peace is owed to our long struggle for national independence. Bangladesh, born of a bloody conflict, sees, therefore, great value in the principles of tolerance, respect for diversity, democracy and understanding. These ideals were realized by the Membership by the adoption in 1999 of the Declaration and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. Bangladesh was honoured to lead the process.

The Programme of Action identifies some major areas of focus, in particular, education, sustainable economic and social development, human rights, equality between men and women, democratic participation, advancing understanding, tolerance and solidarity, participatory communication and free flow of information and knowledge, and international peace and security. Specific sub-areas are set out in each area of focus that would help bring our goals to fruition.

The adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action was of great significance. It provided a clear set of guidelines for action. The text advanced the cause of non-violence. It was a universal document in the real sense, transcending boundaries, cultures, societies and nations. It involved various actors such as States, international organizations, civil society, community leaders, parents, teachers, artists, professors, journalists and humanitarian workers. We believe that the participation of all actors is essential if the building of a peaceful world is to be accomplished through the convergence of ideas, rather than through confrontation.

Bangladesh is well known for having always sought to play a major role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Its commitment to United Nations peacekeeping remains unflinching, having so far contributed more than 58,000 peacekeepers to 37 United Nations peacekeeping operations. We are pledged and willing to do more if called upon.

At home, Bangladesh society has been undergoing a significant positive transformation, particularly in the field of socio-economic development -- poverty reduction, raising per capita income, maintaining food security, maintaining a gross domestic product growth rate of over 5 per cent for over two decades, increasing resilience to meet natural disasters, improving the human development index, reducing gender disparity, and improving social and health indicators.

From our national experience, we believe that gender mainstreaming and empowerment of women are categorical imperatives for development, as well as for social stability and peace. Access to education and health, combined with provisions for microcredit facilities, can unleash the entrepreneurial skills of women. The empowerment of women tends to marginalize extremist thought and action in the community, thereby addressing a root cause of violence and terror. The award of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize to microcredit pioneer Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh clearly demonstrates the linkage between poverty alleviation, women's empowerment and peace. Bangladesh, despite its many and varied constraints, has set an example in this domain. It stands ready to share its best practices with other societies of comparable milieu.

We are at a crossroads in advancing our goals pertaining to a culture of peace, having crossed the midpoint of the Decade. We wish to express our gratitude to all actors that have contributed to its promotion. In this connection, we applaud the role of UNESCO, as well as other involved organizations within and outside the United Nations system. We are particularly thankful to civil society, including non-governmental organizations and young people, including the young foot soldiers of the Fundación Cultura de Paz. We still have a long way to go and much remains to be done. We urge everyone to continue their good work; at this critical juncture, a strengthened global partnership is an absolute must.

We believe that the promotion of a culture of peace is of paramount importance, particularly today, when conflicts bred of misunderstanding and intolerance abound. It is in this perspective that I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010" (A/61/L.16).

The draft contains some technical updates vis-à- vis last year's resolution 60/3, including the following additional elements: in the final preambular paragraph, the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission is welcomed and encouraged, in operative paragraphs, to promote the culture of peace and non-violence for children in its activities. At the sixtieth session, this resolution received a record 107 sponsors. It is our fond hope that this year, too, delegations will accord similar support to our initiative, reflecting global solidarity in the endeavours to achieve this noble aim. It is our belief that some day this resolution will carry the sponsorship of each and every delegation.

Our ultimate objective is to create a world that is peaceful and stable, where the ambience is appropriate for development, where the environment is protected, where rule of law and observance of human rights are the norms, where different civilizations and religions coexist side by side in harmony and where the preponderant value is a culture of peace. This draft resolution is but one way towards reaching that goal. We hope it will receive all delegations' enthusiastic support.

Mr. Tornudd (Finland)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania, the candidate countries Turkey and Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania and Serbia, as well as Ukraine and Moldova, align themselves with this statement.

The Declaration on a Culture of Peace, adopted by the Assembly seven years ago, set out a number of important principles that retain their full validity today. A culture of peace is not a target to be reached once and forever. It comprises an ongoing process of dialogue, education and participation.

The European Union is favourably impressed with the enthusiasm that has resulted in such a large number of initiatives being advanced under this heading. We look forward to further practical action at the international, regional, national and local levels in order to advance the various objectives contained in the Declaration on a Culture of Peace.

The subject is, in fact, so vast that our comments on this occasion will address only some of the points that are relevant to the specific initiatives and actions that we are set to examine.

We are grateful to the Director-General of UNESCO, who has provided us with an updated report (A/61/175) on the work undertaken by his organization. We note with particular satisfaction that the efforts to foster a culture of peace seem to have permeated the activities of a very large number of bodies and organizations within the United Nations system. We are also happy to note that civil society has been actively engaged in furthering the objectives of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

The declarations and other statements on a culture of peace that we make in the plenary meetings of intergovernmental organizations will have no value if their substance is not felt in the lives of ordinary people. The role of youth is particularly important in this regard. We hope that youth groups and youth organizations will play a prominent role in all activities related to the culture of peace.

We have taken note of the recommendations contained in concluding paragraph 59 of the report of the Director-General of UNESCO and hope that they will inspire Member States to take action accordingly and to enhance their efforts in human rights education. We also have full confidence in the ability of UNESCO to continue monitoring activities in this field. In view of the long-term relevance of this matter, the European Union would, for its part, and with the agreement of other Member States, actually be ready to deal with this matter in the General Assembly every two years, instead of every year, as has been the case to date. Specific subjects coming under the heading of a culture of peace could, of course, be taken up as the need arises.

Among the ongoing projects of importance in this context, we are obviously aware of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, although it is not the focus of our attention this year. We look forward to the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of this Dialogue, which is due at the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. The alliance of civilizations, on the other hand, is of immediate importance. Since the report of the High-Level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations is expected later this month, we hope that there will be opportunities in the near future to seek inspiration in their document for practical action to promote tolerance and understanding between all cultures and religions.

Furthermore, we should be mindful of Security Council resolution 1624 (2005), which calls upon all States to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding between civilizations in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures, as well as to counter the incitement of terrorist acts motivated by extremism and intolerance.

At the same time, the European Union wishes to emphasize the paramount importance of freedom of expression. We are deeply convinced that fruitful dialogue cannot be guided by Government authorities. There is no point in drawing up strategies or guidelines for an interchange between societies representing different civilizations unless it has a firm base in free and spontaneous participation in the public debate. The best way to suppress extremist views and incitement to hatred is to let such utterances wilt and die in open debate, where they have no chance of survival. The full richness of cultural dialogue will flourish in a climate of free expression.

It is up to Governments, of course, to provide the proper framework for freedom of expression. This means that full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is of central importance. Most human rights are of such a nature that their enjoyment can be further promoted in all societies, regardless of their stage of economic and social development. We can all do better. Freedom of religion, for example, is not only the absence of prohibitions; it can also include creating appropriate conditions for the practice of religion without discrimination.

Likewise, exercising the right to education in the context of a culture of peace should include efforts to promote education for peace. That is, in fact, one of the longstanding ambitions of UNESCO. Finally, all public dialogue will benefit from the increased participation of women and young persons.

The European Union will examine attentively the draft resolutions submitted under the item on a culture of peace, and looks forward to constructive cooperation with other delegations on this subject.

Mr. Kazykhanov (Kazakhstan)

At the outset, I would like to commend UNESCO for its leading role in the process of fostering the culture of peace and for its recent comprehensive report (A/61/175), which reflects the broad range of activities carried out by the United Nations system, international institutions and civil society in implementing various programmes and initiatives put forward under agenda item 44, which is now under consideration.

Kazakhstan strongly believes that the culture of peace starts within us when we learn how to respect the inherent worth and dignity of other cultures and religions, and when we allow them to keep up their traditions. The moral standing of any society is judged by how it treats other nations and other peoples' cultures.

The emergence of new challenges and threats to humankind, particularly the rise of religious extremism, which threatens security and stability in the world, makes the need for dialogue among cultures and religions even more urgent. A principal objective of this dialogue is to bridge the gap in knowledge about others. It is important to remember that lack of knowledge and understanding and lack of respect for various cultures and religions has already prepared the ground for hatred.

Intolerance and conflict can be prevented through tireless efforts in day-to-day activities, and by taking timely and concrete actions at the local, national and international levels. Education is the key to promoting tolerance.

We commend the valuable contribution of various initiatives on the promotion of a dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations, including the Dialogue among Civilizations, the Alliance of Civilizations, the Enlightened Moderation strategy and the Interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace initiative. We consider all of these to be mutually inclusive, reinforcing and interrelated. Kazakhstan, as a member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, shares its aims and looks forward to the report of the high-level panel, which is expected to contain concrete recommendations for the promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among religions.

Historically, the territory of Kazakhstan has been a meeting place for a variety of different religions and civilizations. The population of Kazakhstan is made up of more than 130 ethnic groups and 46 religious denominations. A balanced internal policy has encouraged dialogue between these diverse cultures and this has resulted in a multicultural society with universal values. The culture of the Kazakh people, characterized by tolerance and openness to innovation, has become the backbone of the spiritual integration we have achieved.

The Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, a unique and effective mechanism to pursue a policy towards ethnic groups, was established in 1995. The Assembly has a consultative and advisory status under the President of Kazakhstan. It works to ensure revival of national cultures, languages and traditions, strengthen interethnic unity and develop recommendations and proposals on State policy in the area of interethnic relations.

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in 2003 in our capital, Astana, has become Kazakhstan's tangible contribution to the strengthening and broadening of interfaith dialogue. One month ago, a second Congress completed its deliberations in Kazakhstan, bringing together high-level religious and political representatives who discussed the Congress' main theme, religion, society and international security. The Congress adopted a Declaration to Enhance the Role and Responsibility of Religious Leaders in the Strengthening of International Security, which was issued as an official document of the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Another substantive outcome of the Congress is a decision to establish, under the auspices of the Congress, an international centre of cultures and religions to carry out educational, research and humanitarian projects and to study potential crisis aspects of the religious situation in the world. Congress participants came to understand the need to establish permanent dialogue, which will provide an opportunity to identify paths to peaceful coexistence between confessions and reduce the risk of religious extremism. The Congress has become an important contribution to peace, accord and broader dialogue among religions and is becoming a credible permanent international forum.

Taking into consideration the importance of dialogue among religions and cultures, our delegation proposes an international year of dialogue among religions and cultures. Such a proposal has been included in a draft resolution, submitted by the Philippines and Pakistan, entitled Promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace (A/61/L.11). As a sponsor, we hope that this draft resolution will be adopted by consensus and that the Members States will therefore show their strong commitment to the promotion of interreligious and inter-ethnic dialogue and concord.

Our delegation also supports and co-sponsored the draft resolution on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World, 2001-2010 (A/61/L.16).

Let us work together to take concrete measures to identify and reduce the causes of disagreement between nations, cultures and religions. The world community should foster a model of global culture that will be able to maintain peace, stability and dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

Mr. Alkashwani (United Arab Emirates)

Historical events have shown that the dominance of the culture of violence and war in different parts of the world affected by disputes and conflicts has not only prevented the settlement of those conflicts, but has also led to an increase in violence. This in turn has led to an escalation of tension and discord in those regions and has fostered the culture of hatred and revenge among many generations, irrespective of their affiliations, not to mention the waste of natural and human resources that should have been utilized in the service of humanity. This requires us now, more than ever, to think seriously about how to promote a culture of peace instead of a culture of violence and war, which currently prevails in many volatile regions around the world.

The United Arab Emirates believes that the characteristics of the culture of peace -- represented in promoting peaceful coexistence and non-violence among peoples and in containing and preventing conflicts through dialogue, understanding and disarmament -- have proved the need for the international community to adopt a joint, comprehensive and multilateral strategy in order to achieve three basic and parallel objectives.

First, the international community must demonstrate a serious political will, avoiding double standards, in order to find peaceful, lasting, just and comprehensive solutions for all the outstanding cases of dominance, colonialism and occupation leftover from the past, particularly the Palestinian question and the situation in the Middle East, which over the past 58 years have led to many wars and acts of violence, not only in our region, but also around the world.

Second, the dissemination of the concepts of peace should be at the core of sustainable human development. This requires the international community to adhere to the recommendations of United Nations summits on global development and its financing and to the principles of equality and social justice among peoples, particularly after conflicts were found to have been the inevitable consequence of continued competition between North and South and rich and poor, and considering other, local conflicts over control of sources of livelihoods and limited national resources.

Third, efforts to disseminate a culture of peace must include a fundamental transformation in the current values and attitudes of many States and communities, including political and extremist groups, that believe in the need to possess deterrent military and nuclear powers, as well as other means to achieve their self-serving ambitions and interests, or to address their own problems by force, with total disregard for the negative consequences of their acts for regional and international peace and security or for the stability of humankind in general.

With that understanding, we voice our support for all projects aimed at incorporating the principles of understanding, tolerance, respect for human rights, collaboration, gender equality and solidarity and mutual respect among peoples and States, and away from all forms of extremism and hatred in school curricula, in the media and in the educational and awareness programmes designed to consolidate and promote the best human practices and concepts.

In that context, we also affirm the importance of developing existing initiatives aimed at promoting partnership among stakeholders, including the private and public sectors and international and subregional organizations. That will lead to implementation of a number of important and sustained programmes and events that are intended to promote dialogue among civilizations and peoples and the principles of peaceful coexistence, cultural diversity and religious and cultural cooperation. It will further ensure greater communication and harmony among peoples and enhance their mutual respect and interests, while preventing ongoing attempts to insult, discriminate and hold extremist positions against other religions and nationalities. As has been proven recently, such attempts can contribute to the escalation of tensions and potential conflicts.

The United Arab Emirates -- which has pursued a sensible and balanced national and foreign policy based upon ancestral traditions and heritage, as well as on the principles of Islam and Islamic culture that call for solidarity, forgiveness, peaceful coexistence with other peoples, non-violence and respect for pluralism -- has actively expanded its diplomatic relations and cultural and economic exchanges with most countries of the world, regardless of their political, economic and ideological orientation or religious beliefs. It has also supported mediation aimed at the containment and management of conflicts, disputes and hotbeds of tensions among States before they occur, and other efforts to promote reconciliation and reconstruction in post-conflict areas.

In order to consolidate its human principles and ethics in its people and in future generations, the United Arab Emirates has pursued a distinctive educational policy that focuses mainly on enhancing educational, media, cultural and social programmes and activities with a view to strengthening the application of the principles of tolerance, brotherhood, freedom, justice, respect for human dignity and human rights, the rule of law, and mutual respect for the cultures, religions and beliefs of other peoples. Those educational policies are also aimed at enhancing the openness of the society of the United Arab Emirates through globalization and current cultural progress, while keeping in mind the Emirates' unique characteristics, in order to ensure its greater participation in national, regional and international development plans so that it may benefit and gain from the present era of globalization.

Convinced of the importance of promoting respect for pluralism and for the rights of others, the Government has enacted a number of local laws and decisions to guarantee to foreign minorities living in the United Arab Emirates the freedom to practice their religious, cultural and social beliefs, traditions and activities. It has encouraged the holding of cultural forums, symposiums, workshops and cultural exhibitions that have attracted intellectuals and journalists, and has included exhibits and folkloric musicians and bands from all over the world to enrich the knowledge and openness of Emirates society towards the diverse concepts and ideas of other civilizations, while taking into consideration its adherence to its own characteristics, heritage and environment.

Finally, we affirm our support for all efforts by the United Nations and its institutions, particularly UNESCO, towards the implementation of General Assembly resolution 60/3, entitled "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010". We hope that the deliberations on this item will contribute to strengthening our collective efforts to enhance international solidarity in fighting the culture of violence and confrontation and in building and consolidating peace in our international relations.

Mr. Elbadri (Egypt)

At the outset, permit me to express our deep appreciation to UNESCO for its valuable report (see A/61/175), which includes an overview of activities to implement the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. It reflects the international agreement on fostering a Culture of Peace and the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, which in turn require a concerted effort on our part to operationalize the various visions and recommendations those initiatives entail.

The culture of peace is part of a profound vision of humanity that includes many elements at all levels, including the individual, society, the State and international relations. This culture, which we have adopted for achieving peace and as a sound foundation for international relations, will not be achieved through selective implementation, for it is an all-encompassing umbrella under which many concepts and principles are not only integrated but also complement one another. The world has never been in such need of a culture of peace as it is today. It is not only a necessity but a political responsibility to embrace and implement such a culture, to develop it into a strong foundation upon which we can base the concept of genuine collective security in conjunction with the respect for international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Today we face a decisive stage in the history of international relations. The number and varying patterns of interactions among States are increasing. This is a natural aspect of globalization that presents us with opportunities for cooperation, complementarity and the fulfilment of mutual interests. Yet certain misunderstandings between peoples and States could also arise as a by-product.

The diversity of cultures, religions, traditions and customs is a complementary aspect of humanity. We face a crossroads today, and our challenge is to avoid turning the added value of differences, the comparative advantage of plurality and the asset of diversity into means for dissension, divisions and conflicts at the international level. This is a time when we can invest in them for the benefit of the international community as a whole.

The means to achieve this noble aim are clear and the road map is well known and can be found in the different declarations and resolutions we have adopted in the General Assembly, be it the culture of peace or the dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples. However, the real problem lies in the political intentions and will to implement such instruments. It is noteworthy that the enthusiasm that was visible when these instruments were adopted has not been the same at the implementation phase. Today, as we discuss the culture of peace, we have to admit that we have not invested in it properly as yet, and this deficiency must be corrected, as soon as possible.

Permit me in that context to discuss a subject closely associated with the culture of peace and which constitutes an important pillar in it, that of the dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions. This dialogue is a vehicle for mutual understanding, a means of overcoming misconceptions and a tool for confirming our mutual belief in a common future for humanity. As events have shown, this dialogue and the culture of peace are important pillars for the promotion of international harmony and peace. However, despite the multiplicity and interaction of initiatives and frameworks that call for activating the dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, the tangible result of that effort is far below our expectations. There are several basic reasons for that, the most important of which is that we have not implemented the initiatives that we adopted here at the United Nations in this regard, in particular, the international agenda for the dialogue among civilizations, because of the lack of enthusiasm to enter into such an important and constructive dialogue among States, or because of our failure to realize the importance of this dimension in international relations.

We now need a collective effort to push forward and implement the dialogue on the basis of two connected actions: establishing a clear mechanism for such a dialogue, and ensuring that the political will exists to make it succeed.

Dialogue has always been the main instrument for interaction among peoples. We must now agree on how it should be implemented -- through the activation of the culture of peace or of the dialogue among civilizations. It will be achieved primarily by ensuring mutual respect for each other and for each other's cultures, with all of their attributes -- religions, traditions and customs.

In such a dialogue there is no place for cultural arrogance or monoculturalism. Peoples' experiences and customs must be respected in accordance with the principle of equality among all civilizations and cultures, whatever their various contributions to the civilization of humanity. In this regard, we would like to emphasize the important and enduring contribution to human civilization made by Islamic civilization.

We would like to underscore how important it is that such a dialogue focus on the commonalities that link us, not on the differences that separate us. Furthermore, we must prevent the dialogue from being politicized and must avoid double standards. We hope that all those aspirations will be met through the timely adoption of an initiative on the alliance of civilizations. The report being prepared by the group of eminent persons established by the Secretary-General to operationalize the initiative will be a first step towards the consideration and adoption of a draft resolution on this issue in the General Assembly.

Improving relations among States through the application of the culture of peace and the dialogue among civilizations remains an important challenge. But events at the international level reflect the urgent need to complement those two approaches with a third one. Today, we must lay the foundations for a value-oriented framework that calls for mutual respect -- respect for other peoples' religious, cultural, historical and civilizational experiences, backgrounds and heritages, as well as respect for the rights of others to be different and unique in faith and belief. We need to lay the foundation for a new culture that encompasses all of those elements and others so as to open the way for international, cultural and civilizational pluralism.

Today, we need a new culture of respect to be implemented, together with the culture of peace.

Mr. Shinyo (Japan)

Last year, at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, world leaders reaffirmed the need to promote the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, as well as the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations and its Programme of Action. My Government greatly appreciates the fact that last year UNESCO, as the lead agency, conducted the mid-term global review of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010.

The culture of peace is based on respect for human rights, democracy and tolerance, the promotion of development, education for peace, the free flow of information and the wider participation of women as integral elements in preventing violence and conflict. All of the activities of the United Nations contribute to the promotion of a culture of peace. On the basis of the review, it is important to find effective approaches for the United Nations system, Member States and civil society to further strengthen the global framework in order to promote a culture of peace.

Japan believes that, if we are to ensure sustainable peace, it is essential to protect people from critical threats to human life and livelihood, and to ensure that people live lives of dignity. With this in mind, Japan strongly promotes the concept of human security and its approach. Let me briefly touch upon issues relating to education and the dialogue among civilizations, which are of particular interest to Japan.

As is often emphasized, peace, development and human rights are linked and complement one another. Japan's own experience in the 60 years since the Second World War bears testimony to that. Recognizing that basic education is a fundamental human right and that investment in education should be the basis for nation-building, Japan has provided official development assistance to the education sector amounting to $4.7 billion over the past five years. In order to achieve the goal of education for all, Japan announced the Basic Education for Growth Initiative at the Group of Eight Kananaskis Summit in 2002. This is an expression of Japan's commitment to supporting developing countries as they improve the quality of their basic education. While respecting their ownership, Japan supports the efforts made by developing countries with a view to ensuring for all the opportunity for primary education and improving the quality of education and educational administration systems.

In 2005, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, who was Prime Minister of Japan at the time, proposed the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Japan, recognizing that one of the key factors in achieving sustainable development is education, has been contributing to the promotion of that Decade, in partnership with its lead agency, UNESCO, as well as with other international organizations and stakeholders, and we will continue that support in the future.

In the World Summit Outcome Document adopted in September 2005, world leaders acknowledged the diversity in the world, and reaffirmed that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind. Globalization, which can bring different civilizations closer, contributes many benefits to society, but it can sometimes also give rise to intolerance among people when they come into contact with cultures and civilizations different from their own. In order to deal with that unfortunate situation, it is of great importance to promote dialogue among people and civilizations, based on the spirit of tolerance and deep mutual understanding.

In that regard, Japan highly commends UNESCO for the major role it played in implementing the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations. Within that framework, UNESCO has organized and sponsored a broad range of activities, conferences and other meetings that have focused on activities aimed at promoting dialogue among civilizations in various regions.

Japan believes that promoting mutual understanding of cultures and civilizations as well as mutually enhancing the development and the dignity of those who belong to different civilizations will contribute to the promotion of a culture of peace. With that in mind, Japan has been actively undertaking a series of efforts to deepen understanding among cultures and civilizations. Japan held the World Civilization Forum in July 2005 to share the experiences of countries in preserving tradition while moving towards modernization. Japan has also held dialogues such as the Japan-Middle East Cultural Exchange and Dialogue Mission, and we hope to continue to promote similar dialogues in the future.

The culture of peace is a subject related to all human beings. Japan believes that it is of the utmost importance to continue our endeavours, in close cooperation with one another, to expand dialogue and exchange views among cultures and civilizations in order to create a world of harmony and peace, where all human beings live on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual respect. I would therefore like to conclude my statement by reiterating that Japan is determined to redouble its efforts to bring about a culture of peace.