The Covid-19 pandemic has “brutally reminded” the world of “our shared destiny”, said on Tuesday Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, before the annual high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
In a video-conference speech on the occasion of this event which is currently held on the sidelines of the 75th UN General Assembly, Bourita underlined that the Alliance is “more relevant than ever”, given that it “does not define itself in opposition to a common enemy, but rather in favor of a shared ideal”.
The Alliance does not oppose us against each other, it brings us together. This is exactly what we need in the current context, he said on the occasion of this meeting themed: “Shaping a better world: building cohesive and inclusive societies in a challenging COVID-19 environment”, and held notably in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the 75th UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, and United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos.
The Minister recalled, on this occasion, that Morocco, as a founding member of the Alliance created 15 years ago, has always adhered to its values and principles.
“And there is a reason for that: here in Morocco, diversity is an identity for the nation, coexistence a way of life, the values of openness, moderation, tolerance and mutual respect between all cultures and civilizations are not a simple slogan, but a principle enshrined in the constitution”, noted Bourita.
The minister also recalled that Morocco has decided to organize the 9th edition of the Alliance’s Global Forum in 2020, noting that the pandemic has delayed its holding but that it has “neither jeopardized the project nor undermined our commitment”.
“It will be an unprecedented event. For the first time in the history of the organization, the Global Forum will be held in the African continent, on Moroccan soil,” he said.
Referring to the fight against the coronavirus, Bourita explained that once the pandemic is overcome, a challenge will remain, namely “to build inclusive and cohesive societies, where mutual knowledge is not only structured between societies, but also within them (…) and by choosing solidarity, tolerance, peace and dialogue”.
“Only then can we move multilateralism from the realm of discourse to that of people-centered and result-oriented action. And that is precisely what our Alliance is aiming for,” he concluded.
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