Rio de Janeiro – The 3rd Forum of the Alliance of Civilisations was a unique opportunity for dialogue. This was one of the conclusions of the undersecretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), Vera Machado, who participated in the closing ceremony of the event, on Saturday (29) in Rio de Janeiro.
“This event was not only important to present some pioneering opportunities with potential for expansion in other communities worldwide. More than that: it was a step further for the creation of a global interface,” said Vera.
According to her, those present at the forum helped share ideas and collaborate with the Alliance of Civilisations. Over three days, the event received more than 7,000 visitors, and over 100 official delegations.
According to the Foreign Minister of Spain, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, more force and willpower are necessary for an alliance of civilisations. “The world does not change unless we believe it can,” said the minister, who believes that the success of the alliance depends on those who act for change.
The ministers present also said they accept that cultural differences contribute to dialogue. The Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, for example, said that with dialogue between civilisations alone is it possible to bring a new atmosphere to the creation of a political order, as could happen in the case of the Palestinian people. “Cultural difference may result in mutual comprehension,” he said.
The great presence of youths and students in the forum was also gratifying to the speakers. “Youths were the creating force of this forum,” said the high representative of the Alliance of Civilisations and former president of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio. At the closing, all emphasized the importance of youths for contribution to the alliance.
Another point covered was the question of education, which was considered fundamental for the Alliance of Civilisations. A group of young leaders participated in a pre-closing ceremony and said it is necessary to invest in youth and protect it so that there may be an intercultural alliance.
The ministers also said that they are anxious for the next edition of the forum, to take place in Doha, Qatar. “I am going to launch a challenge to the 4th Forum, suggesting it should bring together 10,000 people,” said the Spanish minister. And to announce the next edition, the minister of International Cooperation of Qatar, Khaled Bin Mohammed Al Attyah, invited youths and authorities to participate and presented a video about the country, showing a cosmopolitan city that is open to new cultures.
Agreements
At the Forum, some agreements for cooperation and memoranda of understanding were singed between the several organisations present. Among them an agreement between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the Library and Centre of South American and Arab Research (BibliAspa). According to the director at the library, Paulo Daniel Farah, the agreement was signed yesterday (28) with the director general at the Unesco, Irina Bokova, in the presence of the minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim.
“It is a beacon for the recognition of the work and for opening new partnerships for the promotion of new works,” said Farah. According to him, the first initiative that the library should take is the opening of a history course. The agreement should simplify several operations and activities we plan to promote, he said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
