Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for UNAOC, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Coventry University in recognition of his contribution towards the development of peaceful international relationships and intercultural dialogue.
Coventry University conferred on Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa in recognition of his significant contribution to international peace and intercultural dialogue. The ceremony took place at the Coventry Cathedral. Ms. Margaret Casely-Hayford, Chancellor of Coventry University, presented the honorary degree in the presence of Professor Mike Hardy, Founder of The Center for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, the academic board, graduands, students and other dignitaries.
Mr. Miguel Moratinos served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain (2004-2010). Prior to that and as a senior Spanish diplomat, he organized the historic Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid in 1991. It was this conference which paved the way for the signing of the Oslo Accord in September 1993 between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He was then appointed as EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (1996-2003).
Mr. Moratinos, a true believer in the value of multilateralism, dedicated the better part of his career promoting international peace, diversity and intercultural dialogue.
Acceptance Speech by Mr. Miguel Moratinos
High Representative for UNAOC
Upon being conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa
From Coventry University
18 July 2022
Chancellor Margaret Casely-Hayford,
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Judith Mossman,
Professor Dr. Mike Hardy, Founder of the Center for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University,
Dear graduates of the class of 2022,
I am truly grateful for this honorary degree bestowed on me from your highly esteemed university which I accept with humility and gratitude.
Thank you for the great honor.
Looking back at my career which spans over more than 4 decades, I feel very fortunate to have dedicated the better years of my life in the service of a noble cause – peace.
And peace and reconciliation is the heart and soul of this beautiful city and this magnificent Cathedral.
I am certain that each and everyone of you, especially you the young graduates of this year, will always cherish with pride the tragic events that unfolded on that day in 1940 when this city and its Cathedral were destroyed after being relentlessly bombed by the Nazis. But the choice that people of Coventry made the following day to rebuild it again as a symbol of reconciliation and faith in a world free of conflict, is a testament of their courage, resilience and belief in peace.
The choice of hatred , war and destruction is easier than planting the seeds of compassion, humility and peace.
However, peace could be elusive.
The decision and choice of peace as a way of life requires political will and true leadership.
Today is a beautiful day indeed and I do not wish to delve into the current gloomy state of world affairs. But the situation is so grave to be overlooked.
We face conflicts and division on a scale not seen in decades in Africa, Asia, Latin America and of course , the war in Ukraine and its far reaching tragic ramifications.
Discrimination and hunger, climate change and financial crises are but a few of the global challenges our world is facing today.
Building a better, more peaceful future requires collaboration and trust, which are sorely lacking in today’s world.
The reason the Alliance of Civilizations was created and the reason I agreed to lead it, is that it remains one of our best hopes to counter polarization across and within societies; a reminder of our shared dignity, our responsibility to the world we share.
Throughout history, humanity has shown that we are capable of achieving great things.Yes, we have save the planet but my dear friends we have to save also Humanity. We will be able to achieve both goals when we work together in a spirit of mutual respect, humility and compassion.
I, therefore, wish you the Class of 2022 to succeed where our generation failed because the present and the future are yours.
Once again, I am deeply grateful for this honor and May God Bless the City of Coventry and its people.
Thank you very much.
Oration – Honorary Doctor of Letters, His Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos
18th July 2022, 11:00am Ceremony – Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, distinguished friends, colleagues, graduands and guests. Allow me to introduce one of our Honorary Graduands, here to celebrate with our students today, His Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos.
From the moment of his graduation from university in Madrid and the Diplomatic School in Spain, Mr Moratinos has committed his professional and political career to helping to build peaceful and stable international relationships and to encourage cultural understanding.
As a senior Spanish diplomat in 1987 Mr Moratinos was appointed Deputy Director General for Northern Africa and then Director of the Institute of Cooperation with the Arab World when he organised the historic Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid in 1991. It was this conference which paved the way for the signing of the Oslo Accord in September 1993 between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Mr Moratinos subsequently became the Director General of Foreign Policy for Africa and the Middle East. After a spell as Spain’s Ambassador in Israel from July to December 1996, the European Union appointed Mr Moratinos as the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process from December 1996 to June 2003. During this period, he became known as ‘a diplomat on the go’ and ‘a troubleshooter for peace’ promoting peace agreements and strengthening the Arab-Israeli dialogue through his extensive face-to-face contacts and the persuasive power of a good discussion.
As a true believer in the value of multilateralism, in 2005 Mr Moratinos helped in the creation and launch of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations whose purpose is to explore the roots of polarization between societies and cultures and to recommend a practical programme of action to address this issue.
In 2010, Mr Moratinos became Chairman of the Board of Advisers at the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development at Columbia University in the USA and a member of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Since 2019 Mr Moratinos has been the United Nations Under-Secretary-General holding the post of High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and in 2020 he was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as the UN Focal Point to monitor Anti-Semitism and enhance a system-wide-response.
In May 2022 Mr Moratinos launched the “Peace4Culture Global Call” Action Plan which underpins the interdependence of peaceful relations and the safeguarding of cultural and religious heritage. As we have sadly seen in recent months in Ukraine, and before that in places like Mosul in Iraq and from my own research in Kyrgyzstan, violent conflict often results in the destruction of religious and cultural sites that underpin a community’s identity.
Given Coventry’s unique status as the UK’s only City of Peace and Reconciliation and with the city having just held the badge as the UK’s City of Culture 2021, the “Peace4Culture” programme is especially relevant in this place today.
In recognition therefore of his significant contribution to the promotion of peace and cultural understanding, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on His Excellency Miguel Angel Moratinos.