The Forum, comprising 158 members commenced from 22nd to 23rd November, 2022 under the theme “Towards an Alliance of Peace: Living Together as One Humanity” was held in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco.
His Excellency Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, spoke on behalf of The Gambia. Foreign Minister Tangara argued that the adherents of the clash of civilisations theory had a hidden agenda. He also urged African youth to be rooted in their culture in order to be better prepared to open up to the other cultures. Other Member States, International organisations and Members of the UNAOC Group of Friends also participated.
After the welcoming speech of the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, His Excellency Mr. Nasser Bourita who declared the Fez Declaration unanimously adopted, Mr. André Azoulay, Advisor for Cultural Affairs to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, took the floor. The latter delivered a message which content is a true hymn to tolerance from His Majesty the King.
“For His Majesty the King of Morocco, it was the moment to talk about peace. Dialogue is a success in essence. It is through dialogue that peace will come, but this dialogue must be inclusive.”
In his remarks, the Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, noted that all around us, hate speech against women and weak communities is growing. “Racism is on the rise as climate problems become more widespread.” For him, there is an urgent need to counter these trends. The challenge is not to identify the problems but to find the appropriate solutions.
The Forum was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of States members of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) together with the Director Generals and other Heads of Delegation of international organizations, also members of the Group.
On the margins of the Forum, H.E. Dr. Tangara had two tête à tête with his Moroccan and Spanish counterparts His Excellency José Manuel Albares Bueno. During these discussions, the Spanish Minister expressed his great satisfaction with Spanish cooperation with The Gambia. Dr. Mamadou Tangara insisted on the need to help the youth to get jobs in The Gambia. At the end of the discussions, the two ministers extended invitations to each other to visit their respective countries and promised to meet again to deepen the cooperation between the two countries.
