Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Rome Abas, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
December 14, 2025 Culture and education
Intercultural dialogue is not an optional extracurricular activity, but a strategy for human survival. This was the message addressed to the international community by participants at the XI Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, which opened Sunday in Riyadh.
Not an optional course, but a necessity
The conference delegates gathered in the capital of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation between representatives of different cultures and faiths. In an era of increasing polarization and conflict, they are convinced that dialogue remains the only path to life.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres He rejected the notion that the Alliance's mission is unrealistic or, as critics claim, "too soft for our cruel world." Those who dismiss dialogue as naive, he warned, are mistaken. According to Guterres, diplomacy and cooperation are not optional, but essential.
Two decades have passed since then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, with the support of Spain and Turkey, launched the Alliance. While the geopolitical landscape has changed radically since then, the organization's core goal remains unchanged: countering extremism and intolerance and promoting dignified coexistence among people of diverse cultures and faiths.
The UN chief described the paradox of an era in which societies are increasingly interconnected and simultaneously fragmented. He outlined two directions for how this situation could develop: on one side, fear, walls of separation, and military escalation; on the other, a bridge between cultures.
Only the second path, he emphasized, leads to sustainable peace: "No more October 7ths. No destroyed Gaza Strip. No starving El Fashers. No communities massacred, displaced, or scapegoated."
The Secretary-General identified three forces capable of driving positive global change: youth, women and girls, and people of faith. He called on delegates to advance the Alliance's mission "with courage, clarity, and hope."
Riyadh Communiqué: A Call for Peaceful Coexistence
Forum delegates endorsed the Riyadh Communiqué, which identified the fight against all forms of religious intolerance as a global priority. The document emphasizes the key role of education in fostering dialogue, human rights, and peaceful societies, and reaffirms the Alliance's original goal: strengthening cooperation among representatives of different cultures and religions while promoting the principles of respect, mutual understanding, and inclusiveness.
Equal voices – shared responsibility
Opening the conference, High Representative Miguel Moratinos, who is also the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, emphasized that all cultures must have an equal voice in shaping the future of the world. No single community should dominate, he said.
Moratinos warned of the "return of hate speech" and called for vigilance amid rising discrimination. Quoting a verse from Surah Al-Hujurat in the Quran, he emphasized that diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. He also noted that Islamophobia and anti-Semitism have no place in the modern world.
Saudi Arabia calls for dialogue
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, reaffirmed the Kingdom's "long-standing commitment to intercultural dialogue." He stated that Saudi Arabia's support for the Alliance reflects its firm belief that interaction between cultures and civilizations is essential for peace, cooperation, and conflict prevention.
He highlighted a number of Saudi initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and countering extremism, and warned of the growing spread of extremist movements motivated by religion and nationalism, as well as the spread of hate speech and Islamophobia over the past two decades.
These challenges, he said, should encourage states to strengthen – rather than reject – the values of dialogue and the idea of peaceful coexistence.
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