Al-Khuraiji affirms the Kingdom's support for dialogue at the Alliance of Civilizations meeting
In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leading role in promoting the values of tolerance and international peace, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, participated today in the high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. The meeting was held in the presence of prominent international figures, including His Excellency the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, and His Excellency the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, hosted by Riyadh.
The importance of Riyadh hosting the global forum
The Kingdom's hosting of this important international event comes at a time when the world is facing increasing challenges that require concerted international efforts to build bridges of communication. In his address, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Riyadh's hosting of the eleventh session stems from the Kingdom's firm belief that constructive dialogue is the most effective tool for promoting mutual understanding and bringing perspectives closer between different cultures and peoples. This forum serves as a vital platform for exchanging views on current issues and discussing the best ways to address shared humanitarian challenges.
Two decades of international work and review of mechanisms
In discussing the Alliance's progress, Engineer Al-Khuraiji noted that this meeting coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations' founding in 2005, a UN initiative launched with broad international support to promote joint action against extremism and polarization. He explained that this milestone provides an opportune moment to assess achievements, emphasizing that the current phase necessitates a comprehensive reassessment of the mechanisms employed to ensure their ability to address the geopolitical and cultural shifts that have occurred on the international stage over the past two decades.
The Kingdom's efforts in combating hate speech
His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the Kingdom's long history of supporting peace initiatives, noting its active contribution to the establishment of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID). He also affirmed the Kingdom's continued support for UN resolutions aimed at countering hate speech and violent extremism. Al-Khuraiji emphasized a crucial point: that the call for dialogue, while a firmly established principle, will not achieve its desired goals unless it is accompanied by a genuine international and national political will that translates words into concrete, practical steps on the ground.
A firm commitment to a future of peaceful coexistence
In closing, His Excellency reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continued fruitful cooperation with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and friendly nations. He expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration for joint action that reinforces the values of coexistence and translates them into initiatives that serve peace and social cohesion regionally and internationally. The Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Wasil, attended this important meeting, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to high-level diplomatic representation in international forums concerned with peacebuilding.
