Muslim Turkey and Catholic Spain launched the “Alliance of Civilizations” last year and Prime Ministers Tayyip Erdogan and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero presented U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday the movement’s report, drawn up by academics, politicians and clergy.

Annan backed calls in the report, commissioned amid predictions of a “clash of civilizations”, for the media to act responsibly, particularly when dealing with religion.

Many of the issues building tensions between Muslim and Western societies come at the crossroads of politics and religion, according to a report released Monday by the Alliance of Civilizations High-Level Group.

One of the contributing factors to the rise in extremism is the suppression of non-violent political movements in the Muslim world, the report said.

“Therefore, it is in the interest of Muslim and Western societies alike that ruling parties in the Muslim world provide the space for the full participation of peaceful political groups, whether religious or secular in nature,” it said The report cited the potentially destructive impact of inflammatory language sometimes used by political and religious leaders and the effect such language can have when amplified by the media as causes of increased tensions. Leaders and those who shape public opinion had a responsibly to do everything in their power to promote understanding among cultures and mutual respect of religious belief and traditions, the report said.

The report also recommended that the United Nations appoint a high representative to assist in defusing cross cultural tensions, build bridges of understanding and create pathways toward reconciliation, especially in times of crisis.

“A forum for the Alliance of Civilizations should be established under UN auspices to provide a regular venue for representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to forge partnerships and to express commitments for action,” the report said.

Speaking at the Fourth High-Level Group Meeting of Alliance of Civilizations Initiative in Istanbul, Erdogan said that injustice, fears and doubts caused hatred, prejudice and intolerance throughout the world.

“Efforts should be urgently made to solve the problems between Islam and the West,” he said. “Turkey attaches great importance to the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative which aims to resettle the mutual understanding. We have to put into practice this initiative for next generations to live in peace.”

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who along with Erdogan is the co-sponsor of the initiative, said that different cultures could co-exist.

“There are many examples of this kind of co-existence in the world,” he said.

“This is not an optimistic dream. We should take lessons from this co-existence instead of talking about borders all the time.”

“Our neighbors are our friends, not enemies. On the other hand, pressures, acts of violence, poverty and famine are our joint enemies. We should raise our voice against those who are trying to destroy peace in the world.”

Download the Full Original Report - pdf File
Highlights of the High-level Group Report - pdf File

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