Dialogue Among Cultures Helps Realize Sustainable Development- Al Nasr

Doha , April 29 (QNA) - Security and peace and human rights principles are interrelated and affect each other, whereas dialogue among diverse cultures is an integral part of the means to achieve sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals. Nasser bin Abdulaziz, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations also emphasized in a speech at the forum of the Millennium Development Goals in Doha that he has pledged to restructure the alliance and boost its financial resources in a way contributing to a new vision. This vision, he said, foresees enhancing the alliances ability to realize the Millennium Development Goals as well as other sectors of the United Nations, building on the political will of the friends of the Alliance as well as the supportive countries which had hosted its forums as well as the efforts of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He pointed out that the eight Millennium Development Goals that started from the 2000 World Summit at the United Nations, was reaffirmed in 2005 and 2010 in the two world summits at the level of heads of state and governments and constituted major roadmaps for social and economic development and environmental issues. He noted that with the approach of the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals by the end of 2015, the alliance, despite its modest potentials supports all the national, regional and global efforts to achieve the goals of the Millennium. Al Nasr reviewed the alliances activities and its efforts to mitigate poverty impact. He noted that Qatar's efforts are not limited to the national level, but also extended to creative initiatives to push forward the development process on the multilateral level . He said that in addition to the initiative "Education Is Above All" to promote education in conflict zones, Qatar had also launched Silatek to provide job opportunities for young people in the least developed countries. It also launched the South Fund for humanitarian aid to developing countries, besides other initiatives related to development. The Alliance is carrying out fruitful programs in the field of media, especially in light of the growing role of the traditional media and the proliferation of social media forums, he said. In the area of environmental sustainability, Al Nasr said the Alliance was taking part in international conferences, a confirmation of the role it can play in overcoming political differences resulting from differing interests towards climate treaties and conventions. He noted that Qatars hosting of the fourth world forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Doha in December 2011 produced the Doha Declaration which helped connect the goals of the Alliance with those of the Millennium.(QNA)