GA high-level meeting on culture of peace/Closing session – Press release (excerpts)

Plenary

48^th & 49^th Meetings (AM & PM)

ADOPTING CONSENSUS RESOLUTION, GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFFIRMS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING,

INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AS IMPORTANT DIMENSIONS OF CULTURE OF PEACE

Assembly President Says High-Level Meeting ‘Sent Clear Message’,

Speakers Called for Restoring Values of Compassion and Solidarity

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Background

The General Assembly met today to conclude its two-day high-level meeting on the culture of peace. (Please see Press Release GA/10782.)

Statements

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MARIA LUIZA RIBEIRO VIOTTI ( Brazil) …

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For its part, Brazil understood by experience that respect for diversity enriched society, and that the confluence of people from all continents and the peaceful coexistence of faiths had instilled a strong desire for “accommodating the Other” in its national character.  Arab and Jewish communities, for example, lived side by side in harmony, which reinforced Brazil’s strong support for the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and to an independent State, economically viable, alongside an Israel within secure borders.

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GORDON BROWN, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, …

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…  In addition, he repeated the importance that all attached to the creation of a Palestinian State, side by side with Israel.  Britain would continue to work towards that objective.

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MOHAMMAD KHAZAEE ( Iran) …

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He said the representative of a regime marked with crimes such as aggression, occupation and torture against the Palestinian people had, under the pretext of a false interpretation of a certain divine religions, tried to abuse this meeting for its own narrow political purpose. The participation of such a regime would give them a chance to try and disrupt the current process and divert attention from the mandate.

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For information media • not an official record