Rio de Janeiro – Over 50 countries are participating in the 3rd Alliance of Civilizations Forum, promoted by the United Nations (UN), in Rio de Janeiro. The ministers of Foreign Relations of Brazil, Celso Amorim, Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, and Spain, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, believe that the event is influencing the emergence of a new world order.
“Being able to bring so many countries together is always very positive. We are trying to build a new world order,” said the Spanish minister on this Friday (28th). According to him, the Alliance of Civilizations was born with an emphasis on relations between the West and the Arab world, but minister Amorim judged that closer ties had to be established with other countries, such as the African ones. The conference will continue until Saturday (29th).
According to Amorim, the presence of 50 ministers and other personalities, totalling 2,400 participants, attests to the event’s success. “The diversified, qualified attendance is a sign that the experience is being successful,” said the Brazilian foreign minister.
The Turkish minister also claimed that the event is being successful, and that it has already become a tradition. “We want a forum for interaction and mutual understanding,” said Davutoglu. According to him, if a new world order is to be reached, then no one must be left out.
The ministers underscored the fact that the next forum will be held in Doha, Qatar. “I am certain that this important initiative will be further strengthened next year, in Qatar,” said Moratinos.
Launched in 2004, the Alliance of Civilizations comprises over 100 governments and 21 international organizations. The ministers also claimed that a strong presence of civil society is very important for the forum’s debates to continue.
Iran
Amorim also stated that the agreement signed last week by Iran regarding its nuclear programme, with mediation by Brazil and Turkey, is for peace and not conflict. “We are trying to take the path of conversation,” he said. “I believe that this path is the result of a very flexible policy of the Iranian government,” he added.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
