UN: Alliance of Civilizations contributes to peace, better future

Alliance of civilizations can play a key role to helping humans live in peace thus have a better future, a UN representative said Tuesday. Nasser Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, said the Alliance has been playing a major role in education, youth, media, immigration and sustainable development. Al-Nasser was addressing the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Preparatory Conference for the 6th UNAOC Global Forum, due in Bali, Indonesia, on August 29-30. The conference's theme is "Peace and Prosperity for Sustainable Development." He said there would be no development without stable and safe environment. The Alliance of Civilization can make a change in decision-making, prevent crises and create a suitable post-conflice environment, he said. The alliance, added Al-Nasser, was complimentary to political and security efforts. Wu Hongbu, UN Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, said the UN was closely following the discussions within the Alliance of Civilization. He said the UN was optimistic for the rising number of regional and international initiatives aimed at respecting diversity. He added that combining peace and development contributed to achieving the MDGs in 2015, following which the MDGs should focus on the development of people. Qatari Vice-Chairman of the Alliance of Civilizations Committee Ambassador Hassan Al-Mohannadi hoped the conferees would approve a document that would contribute to achieving the goals of the 6th UNAOC Global Forum. He highlighted the important role of the Alliance of Civilizations in pushing forward development and peace. Kuwait is represented by Khulaif Al-Athaina, Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Coordination, Foreign Relations and Hajj at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs