A message from the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Mr. Giandomenico Picco

To many the idea of dialogue among civilizations may seem like wishful thinking, an unreachable ideal. Most will say, as they have said to me on several occasions, that it cannot be achieved because it has never been achieved. Indeed, there are entire institutional cultures based on the perception that we cannot pursue what was not previously achieved. Even though cultures have always interconnected in one way or another, many individuals and groups still communicate to their young the fear of the "other" that comes from the past of prejudice, misunderstanding and failure. And yet it is exactly the challenge of pursuing something new, something that we do not even know, that exists at the very basis of the work of scientists and researchers. When I was a young man, and wiser and elder people at the United Nations told me not to engage in adventures with no precedents, I could not understand it, for those challenges seemed to me the most attractive ones. And so I followed my instinct and, yes, I believe I pursued what was not done before. If a scientist is allowed to continue his quest for the unknown, why then should such a quest be forbidden to me? I think that, as a result, many lives were saved and at least my life became more meaningful. Too many times elders bequeath to the young a degree of scepticism that they mask under the false pretence of experience. Perhaps it is not realism that we communicate to the young in that way, perhaps what we call experience may simply represent our failure. To the new generation, I do not wish to communicate any reluctance to pursue new enterprises, to discourage aiming for what has yet to be achieved, or to provoke them to abandon their aspirations and dreams. Even if the dialogue among civilizations proves to be an impossible feat for our generation, perhaps it will not be so for the next generation or the one thereafter. So it seems to me that the journey starts with each one of us now. One can hardly pursue the ambitions and goals of a dialogue among civilizations without a certain belief in the power of the human spirit transcending the barriers, divides and obstacles that may have existed for centuries. Dialogue is above all a mindset that appreciates diversity as an element of betterment and growth, thus overstepping the old paradigm that perceives diversity as a threat or, worse yet, as a synonym for "enemy". The dialogue among civilizations undoubtedly has many meanings. As such it may be useful to focus primarily on one meaning if we do not wish to get lost in the vagueness of an everlasting conversation without direction. If the focus of our dialogue is on changing the mindset that perceives diversity as a threat, its ultimate objective may well be the elaboration of a new paradigm of international relations based on that change. This is the ambitious goal that the Group of Eminent Persons, established by the Secretary-General, has set for itself. A new paradigm will include the following elements: A reassessment of the concept of "enemy"; can we aspire to leaders that can lead without an enemy? Alignments based on issues rather than alliances based on ideology (even good friends can agree on some issues and disagree on others); Recognition of the concept of stakeholders in an interdependent world rather than super-Powers or medium Powers (a century ago major Powers could easily influence minor Powers; today even small nations can affect super-Powers, as we have seen in the financial sector, not to speak of terrorism); Finally, a paradigm based of course on collective decisions but also on individual responsibility, for individual responsibility seems to have taken a leave of absence from the institutional and legal frameworks of the international system. It can be argued that if we do not take individual responsibility, the commitments to collective decisions may be very weak indeed. The dialogue across the divide is not a new discovery. Beyond words and good intentions, a dialogue appears to be most successful when individuals across the divide "build something together". Building something together is, at the end of the day, the real form of dialogue. When we build something together we will likely use the different talents we have for a common purpose. When we have a stake in a common task, we have a stake in a common future. I am speaking of building physical structures, or joining in common projects or in institution-building. Constructing takes time and requires stamina, determination, courage and wisdom. An though much can be said about the material construction of structures across divides, clearly school programmes and uniting forces to fight against common diseases and natural disaster are equally important. Building something across the divide may at the end defeat the arrogance of power, which has been the core malaise of local and international societies. Beyond respect, tolerance and cultural and intellectual acceptance of the other, building across the divide gives a sense of lasting to a dialogue. The dialogue among civilizations, the way the Secretary-General and I see it, is thus a dialogue between those who perceive diversity as a threat and those who see diversity as a step towards betterment and growth. If there is a skill we may all have to refine or to learn better and better, it is how to manage diversity. Giandomenico Picco, an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, is the Personal Representative of the Secretary- General for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of GDP Associates, Inc., in New York City, and President of the Non-Governmental Peace Strategies Project in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Picco had a distinguished career with the United Nations from 1973 to 1992, serving most recently as Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs. Notable achievements during this time included the United Nations efforts leading to the release of the Western hostages in Lebanon and the negotiations that led to the ceasefire between Iran and Iraq. He represented the Secretary- General in the negotiations of the Geneva Accords (1988) on Afghanistan and in the Rainbow Warrior arbitration. After his departure from the United Nations, Mr. Picco received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including the President's Special Award for Exceptional Service from the United States, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of the Cedre du Liban from the President of Lebanon, and others. His personal account of the Lebanon hostage case was published as a book entitled Man without a Gun.