Statement by Gennady Kuzmin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, at the High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace
Mr. President,
The High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace makes significant contribution in the promotion of dialogue, harmony and mutual understanding between people of different cultures and religions. We welcome annual discussions within this format.
It is essential to keep common understanding that peace is not only the absence of armed conflicts. It also includes the promotion of good-neighborliness and mutual respect between states, peoples and communities.
Unfortunately, we must acknowledge that unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered further increase of intolerance and radicalism across the world. We note with concern the rhetoric aimed at associating the coronavirus with certain nations. This is inadmissible way to advance narrow political agendas. Only through joint efforts the international community will be able to stop the virus outbreak.
Russia has been consistently promoting the culture of peace at the international stage and has been always ready to share its wealth of experience of peaceful coexistence of the representatives of different cultures and religions. We are confident that the significant momentum for the efforts in this sphere will be added by the International Conference of Heads of States, Parliamentarians and Representatives of the World Religions on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue for the Benefit of Peace and Mankind, which will be held in Russia in 2022 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union under the aegis of the United Nations.
Mr. President,
Different cultures and religions have been living side by side in Russia for centuries. Together they faithfully served their Motherland, and selflessly defended it during the Second World War. We owe it to the victims of this war to make a greater effort not to allow this global bloodshed to be repeated.
The culture of peace and respect for cultural and civilizational identity should take a worthy position among the key principles of today’s multipolar world. Intervention policy and attempts to forcibly impose extraneous scales of values should be left in the past. It will make the architecture of international relations more fair and democratic, and will enhance global stability and regional security.
We hope that today’s discussion of the further efforts on promotion of the culture of peace will help to build a better world for everybody.
Thanks for your attention.
