MOS Anand Sharma leads Indian delegation to UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum

Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of State (MOS) for External Affairs and Information & Broadcasting represented India at the Second Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 6-7, 2009.

The UN Alliance of Civilizations is an important international initiative aimed at promoting dialogue and advancing inter-cultural understanding. It is strongly supported by world leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The meeting in Istanbul was attended by 84 countries and 16 International Organizations including several Heads of State, Government and Foreign Ministers.

Addressing the Forum, Shri Anand Sharma stated that India supports all sincere efforts to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural understanding. He underscored the need to create an enabling environment for dialogue and understanding between cultures and civilizations in a spirit of tolerance, harmony and mutual respect, particularly today when the international economic crisis may fuel further tensions. In this context, he welcomed all efforts to build bridges of understanding between nations, peoples, religions and cultures.

In his remarks, Shri Sharma highlighted India’s tradition of inclusiveness, tolerance and pluralism which has enabled hundreds of millions of Indians to live in peace and harmony in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious environment. India has always been willing to share its historical experience of centuries of nurturing and celebrating its unparalleled diversity. Shri Sharma underscored the need to combat the scourge of extremism and terrorism and called for a joint effort to tackle this menace. He also stressed on the need for a dialogue amongst civilizations in the true spirit of conciliation and peaceful co-existence.

On the sidelines of the Forum, MOS held bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Spain, Turkey and Portugal, as well as, interaction with other dignitaries present at the event.

New Delhi
April 8, 2009