Rabat – Morocco will host the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) 9th Global Forum in the city of Fez on November 22 and 23. The event will bring together prominent international actors from a wide range of fields, with the aim of creating meaningful and productive partnerships and networks, particularly in Africa.
The announcement was made yesterday by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratino, following their meeting in New York, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The forum will seek to address several challenges and current global issues, including “violent extremism, terrorism, xenophobia, hate speech, racism, discrimination, and radicalism,” indicated UNAOC and Morocco’s foreign ministry in a joint press release. “Finding pathways to peace, unity and solidarity rooted in mutual respect, human dignity and compassion has never been more urgent,” added the statement.
Bourita highlighted that the 9th Global Forum will notably focus on Africa, “a continent that has not yet gained its rightful place when it comes to collective action and global mobilization.”
He added that choosing Morocco as host for the forum, particularly the “historic city of Fez”, is “not a coincidence,” highlighting the North African country’s role as a gateway for African diplomacy, as well as promoting the continent’s interests.
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In addition, Moratinos stressed the position Morocco enjoys as a model for cultural and religious coexistence. “The need to save the planet is often mentioned, but we are also required to learn to live together, to respect each other, and to understand the existence of different religions, cultures and civilizations, and Morocco embodies this,” he emphasized.
Moratinos expressed his “deep appreciation and warm thanks” to King Mohammed VI for accepting to host the global forum, an “important international event.”. He added that “the city of Fez was chosen in view of its ancestral character and its spiritual symbolism.”
Moratinos, who will also participate in the forum, said that Morocco and the UN joining forces to hold the 9th UNAOC Global Forum “will guarantee its success.”
