Remarks by Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos,
Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for UNAOC,
and UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia,
at the High-level Group of Friends Meeting,
11th UNAOC Global Forum – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
14 December 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Your Excellency Mr. Waleed Al Kureiji,
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia;
Your Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres,
Secretary-General of the United Nations;
Your Excellency, Mr. Zeki Levant Gumrukcu,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye;
Your Excellency, H.E. Ms. Elma Saiz Delgado,
Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration of Spain;
It is an honour to address you at this pivotal moment for the Alliance, as we gather in Riyadh to reflect not only on our collective journey, but on the responsibilities that lie ahead.
Allow me first to express deep appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for generously hosting this Forum at such a defining moment. The choice of Riyadh reflects a growing recognition that dialogue, reform, and openness are central to shaping more inclusive and resilient societies.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was created in response to deepening global fractures — cultural, political, and social. Two decades on, those fractures have not disappeared. In many ways, they have become sharper, more complex, and more consequential. Yet so too has the relevance of this Alliance.
As we usher in a new era for UNAOC, our task is clear: to ensure that dialogue is not treated as a luxury of peaceful times, but as a strategic necessity in times of tension, uncertainty, and transformation.
In today’s world, polarization travels faster than understanding.
Disinformation fuels mistrust. Identity is weaponized. And double standards erode faith in international norms. In this context, UNAOC must continue to serve as a trusted platform — one that convenes when others disengage, that bridges when others divide, and that listens when others speak past one another.
The new era of the Alliance must be defined by three shifts.
First, Dialogue remains at the heart of our mandate, but it must be enforced across many areas — in education systems, in media ecosystems, in youth engagement, and in policy spaces where prevention is more effective than reaction.
Second, from participation to partnership. UNAOC’s strength lies in its unique ability to bring together governments, civil society, faith leaders, media, and youth. Going forward, we must further deepen these partnerships, aligning our efforts with national priorities and regional realities, while remaining anchored in universal values.
Third, from response to foresight. The Alliance should strengthen its capabilities to anticipate emerging risks — whether linked to new technologies, social fragmentation, or the misuse of religion and culture — and support Member States at their request in addressing them before they escalate into conflict.
Excellencies,
The Group of Friends has been, and will remain, the political backbone of this Alliance. Your leadership is essential — not only in supporting UNAOC’s mandate but in championing its principles within broader multilateral processes. At a time when multilateralism itself is being questioned, UNAOC offers proof that cooperation across cultures and civilizations is not only possible, but indispensable.
As we look ahead, the Alliance stands ready to work with you — to renew trust, to counter narratives of division, and to reaffirm a simple but powerful truth: that our diversity, when governed by mutual respect and shared responsibility, remains one of humanity’s greatest strengths.
In conclusion, I wish to extend my profound gratitude to the co-sponsors of UNAOC, the Governments of Spain and Türkiye, for their consistent political and financial support over the past twenty years.
My deep appreciation also goes to all our partners and donors, who have provided substantive or in-kind support to UNAOC activities and contributed to the Voluntary Trust Fund. Through their unwavering commitment, we have been able to deliver on our mandate and contribute to the broader peace and security agenda.
I count on your continued engagement as we shape this next chapter together.
Thank you.