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Media Room News UNAOC In The News UN civilizations representative visits Beirut to develop ties
Media Room News UNAOC In The News UN civilizations representative visits Beirut to develop ties | UN civilizations representative visits Beirut to develop ties |
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Lo sentimos, pero el contenido no está disponible en español todavía. BEIRUT: The United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, concluded his official three-day visit to Beirut with a news conference on Thursday. During his visit, Sampaio met with President Michel Sleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Information Minister Tarek Mitri and Beirut Mayor Abdel-Monem al-Ariss. In addition he met with several representatives of civil society. The Alliance of Civilization (AoC) was established in 2005, as an initiative of the governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations. The AoC emerged out of a conviction that in order to achieve sustainable peace long-standing divisions between cultures need to be addressed. Sampaio’s visit was aimed at developing closer relations with Lebanon, and to identify areas for future cooperation within the AoC’s regional strategy for the Euro-Mediterranean area. Furthermore, Sampaio participated in another conference on the role of AoC in the process of intercultural dialogue, which was organized by the International Federation of Catholic Universities at Saint-Joseph University. When asked which specific role in AoC’s plan of action he foresaw for Lebanon, Sampaio explained: “Due to its history, Lebanon remains a unique case of a society woven with cultural diversity and Lebanon can truly play a role of reference with its successes and its failures-it is crucial to understand the Lebanese experience and to share it.” To build on that, Sampaio encouraged the authorities to develop a “National Plan for Intercultural Dialogue,” in order to both acknowledge all that is done in this country to preserve its rich cultural diversity and to pinpoint the problems and difficulties that present themselves today to Lebanese society. “This way we can fully profit from this diversity and avoid it becoming a source of problems and conflicts,” he added. Sampaio explained that the aim of the AoC was to help communities focus on the urgency of learning to live together, the urgency of one culture’s respect for the other, and the urgency of a culture that respects everyone’s human rights. “To reach these aims,” he continued, “we must focus on improving the relations between communities, suggesting the development of certain programs aimed at youth, education, the media and migration. “I have therefore encouraged the authorities, civil society and the city of Beirut to strongly contribute to the AoC’s regional strategy for the Euro-Mediterranean area, which adheres to the principle of dialogue in order to build bridges and restore trust.” Sampaio concluded the conference with the following statement: “In this context, a unique role is reserved for Lebanon to play, because due to its diversity and dynamic society, it has the vocation to become the capital of creativity in the Middle East. “You have the potential; the alliance offers you the opportunity. It’s important that diversity is a future guarantee for all Lebanese,” he said. By Farah-Silvana Kanaan Special to The Daily Star Friday, October 30, 2009 |