Alliance of Civilizations Istanbul Lecture Series

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me first express my grateful thanks to the Turkish National Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations for inviting me to address you in these beautiful surroundings as part of this lecture series which has had such distinguished speakers already. The organizing committee suggestion that ‘The Alliance of Civilizations and the Middle East’ be the subject of this lecture.

I welcomed this suggestion not only because of the Middle East’s geopolitical and strategic importance and its vital role in achieving the objectives of the Alliance of Civilizations, but mainly because the region presents a particular case of contradiction between principles and practice, between intentions and actions.

This third millennium was meant to be a millennium of peace, harmony, human rights and development. The first decade of this millennium began with a call by the United Nations General Assembly for the year 2000 to be the International Year of the Culture of Peace. At the same time they called for 2010 to be the International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures and for the decade in between to be the Decade of Global Peace Culture and Non-Violence against Children.

Instead, what did we witness in reality?

We witnessed this decade making a reversal of the values of peace, truth, tolerance and justice. We witnessed a prevalence of wars and a rise of prejudice to the extent that UN resolutions seem to be meant for another planet rather what they are supposed to be - an incubator for human values and a safety net for humanity. And I believe the situations in Palestine and Iraq – let alone in Afghanistan – illustrates this without any need for further comment.

However, despite what we have been witnessing in reality - these images of anger and injustice - hope is pinned on the wise and reasonable among us to build a better world and to find ways to change the negative picture using civilized methods and coordinating efforts between all nations and cultures through international organizations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am convinced that this Istanbul Lecture Series is one of the important forums which allows us the opportunity to bring our cultures closer and to search for fresh ideas which can be turned into actionable programmes and which can unravel many of the lingering problems that we’re faced with.

From my side, I have taken the initiative whenever possible – whether at the level of personal meetings or at the occasion of international gatherings – to call for innovative ways of thinking to strengthen peace between cultures.

Therefore, at the 3rd Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro in May this year and at the MDG Advocates Group in September in New York, I called for the need to forge a closer relationship between the Alliance of Civilizations and the Millennium Development Goals.

I have deliberately chosen the forum of this Istanbul Lecture Series to take this message further. I believe that Istanbul is the right place to discuss this, firstly because Istanbul is an important part of the Middle East. Secondly through its history and years of civilization, it can be a helpful example of how to avoid conflict which is often caused by those rightly described by Prime Minister Erdogan ‘who do not give any consideration to the feelings of justice, equity and freedom in building international relations’.

And on this occasion I would like to welcome the initiative of establishing an Institute of the Alliance of Civilizations here in Istanbul, which will clearly demonstrate the commitment of translating these ideas into programmes.

The convergence between the Alliance of Civilizations and the Millennium Development Goals is not only possible but also essential to achieve the world we aspire to, a world where the values of justice, equity and freedom are respected.

Please allow me to put before you my vision on this subject and also to note something that has always struck me. As a result of my participation in many regional and international gatherings, I couldn’t help but notice that those who speak about international human development are often looked at as either practioners of politics or philosophy or even as simply philosophizing. By no means do I consider myself as a practitioner of politics or philosophy. And I hope I am not philosophizing in front of you tonight!

Tonight I am putting before you my point of view on this link between the Alliance of Civilizations and the Millennium Development Goals through my personal experience as a woman from the Arabian Peninsula who knows her responsibilities towards participating in this dialogue.

My personal experiences stem from the search for practical programmes in my own country, Qatar, which can elevate the standard of education. I have also learned both through my experience of raising my own children and through the various national projects in my country that youth are fully prepared to shape their own future by themselves if provided with the right tools and a conducive environment for innovation.

After we established Education City in Doha - which contains a number of renowned international universities - and through my membership of the High Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations, I also became more convinced that cultural differences between people diminish and disappear when we can all find a common objective that we agree on and rally around.

For Qatar, this common objective is elevating the standard of knowledge and education. In an atmosphere of cultural openness, education not only supports coexistence between cultures but also places the issue of human development at the heart of this coexistence.

Furthermore, my experience as a Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education for UNESCO has led me to participate in other activities in the Middle East and North Africa, through which I have come to realize something else very important. And that is the continuing conflicts in the region are barriers, which deprive our youth from gaining the necessary knowledge without which human development cannot be achieved. This human development depends not only on availability of resources but also of possessing knowledge itself.

For this reason, through my work with UNESCO, I have been keen on making education guaranteed for all – and particularly in protecting education in times of conflict and insecurity. To achieve this objective we have worked tirelessly to support a number of educational projects in a number of areas including Iraq and Gaza where grave dangers have engulfed the educational systems in all its parts. This is hindering the process of accumulating knowledge, which in turn will consequently stop it from playing its role in sustainable human development.

A few months ago, I accepted to become a Millennium Development Goal Advocate. And so my convictions have become even stronger that coexistence between cultures, protecting education and human development are inseparable issues. This is amply demonstrated by the events of the recent years: the global financial crisis, the different environmental disasters and the political violence. All these point to the lack of insight and understanding of the real meaning of human development – that it should not serve the interests of a few but should serve the interest of all peoples.

But unfortunately many people - in developing countries especially - have fallen victim to conflicts, which have spiraled out of any moral control, and they become cannon fodder for these conflicts instead of being able to enjoy their rights and their share of the resources of this world like other normal people.

Through no fault of their own, these innocent people are paying the price for wars and conflicts which are trying to establish imagined control and false supremacy at the expense of man’s right of even a basic level of development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Elevating human development or achieving the Millennium Development Goals does not only add practical value to the Alliance of Civilizations but it also serves this Alliance in its pursuit of replacing a culture of violence with a culture of peace instead. In the area of the Middle East, it’s rather difficult to speak in terms of uprooting the disease of violence and ending this phenomenon in all forms once and for all unless carefully considered steps are taken which focus on dealing with the root causes of this violence.

Among those steps are: calming the trouble spots, removing all forms of occupation, the settlement of lingering conflicts on a just basis and also protecting children and all innocent civilians against the pain of aggression and insecurity. Also protecting women from abuse and all that threatens her safety. In addition of course in guaranteeing economic rights.

And in this context I want to focus on economic violence, which is being waged against our youth. The problem of finding work and opportunities for many of our youth under the age of 25 is perhaps one of the most formidable challenges we have facing us. Particularly in that most of these youth live in the geographical areas suffering most from abject poverty. We actually don’t have any statistics for the participation of youth in the labour market in the Middle East and North Africa compared to other areas.

But we know that the majority of the population of the Middle East and North Africa are under 25. According to demographic, medical and social theories this is an age group that can be at its maximum potential mentally and physically if provided with the necessary means and conditions. It is an age group that can either be seen as an economic opportunity or a source of economic crisis.

If seen as an opportunity, it will enhance the region’s independence but if seen as a crisis, it will increase the chances of becoming dependent on donor countries. Here are some statistics on the lost demographic opportunities:

According to the estimates of the World Bank, the average unemployment rate in males in the Arab world - though lesser than those in females which are estimated at 50% - remain one of the most formidable challenges facing the countries of the region in the coming years. Statistics also show that the number of unemployed people in the Arab world exceeds 16 million and could even jump to 80 million by the year 2020. At the same time, there are other projections which indicate that tens of millions of young people will be ready to join the work force during this time.

All of this makes it incumbent on the Arab world to start thinking from now how to tackle the issue of finding about 100 million job opportunities over the next 20 years.

Unemployment resulting from the wasting of good demographic opportunities can be likened to dry rot eating into the foundations of our societies. It represents a waste of youthful energies and a loss of economic resources as well as causing serious social problems. These are continuously rising numbers especially amongst those with secondary and higher education.

In turn, this weakens the spirit of both the youth and their families. Important sectors of society lose confidence that education is the optimum way of achieving development. Therefore the dilemma is not just an economic one but also is a psychological, social and ultimately a political one. Apart from their inability to fulfill their responsibilities to their families, these unemployed youth suffer from poverty, deprivation and health issues. Not only that but they remain languishing in this situation where human dignity is almost totally absent and they can be attracted to violence and resentment and can fall easy prey to the temptations of extremism.

So therefore, all efforts should be made to take charge of this situation in order so help find a solution for the deteriorating economic conditions in the Arab countries and to tackle this persistent problem which is the concern of all countries and societies alike.In addition, governments and non-governmental organizations should establish projects and programmes with the necessary financial backing which will utilize the capabilities of these youth.

I’d like to stress the important of participation and giving is no less important than trying to tackle violence – particularly economic - in its root causes. More than 72 million children around the world have no access to primary education, more than one third of whom live in areas of conflict and instability.

What have we done to save these children from this misery?

Didn’t we decide that this decade should be the decade of saving childhood from violence?

And if we look at the Middle East as an area, it has more than its fair share of conflict and instability. Childhood for many of the children here is nothing but a stolen dream. Their countries have been riddled with wars and conflicts which are breaking down the family and society and adversely impacting their social and psychological stability.

Long years of sanctions and wars have deprived 2 million Iraqi children of attending school and have led to Iraq moving from the ranks of advanced countries as far as education is concerned to one of the most backward. Therefore despite all efforts, the percentage of literacy in Iraq will not be more than 82% by the year 2015, a far cry from what it used to be.

Similarly, in the Gaza Strip, nearly 1 million Palestinians are in dire need of participation and giving after being forced to live on international aid and handouts. And this aid is almost impossible to get through to the citizens anyway because of the unjust blockade which is imposed on the Strip because Israel is cutting the access.

The siege and the collective punishment policy imposed on its citizens has led to the chronic suffering of Gaza’s children. The siege has also led to the impoverishment of people and the deterioration of health care systems in addition to the systematic assassination of doctors and aid workers.

In 2008 an UNRWA official said, ‘“Gaza is on the threshold of becoming the first territory to be intentionally reduced to a state of abject destitution, with the knowledge, acquiescence and - some would say - encouragement of the international community.”

Just a few months ago, we witnessed a horrific attack by the Israeli navy on a bold flotilla heading towards Gaza. Instead of being held accountable for their inhuman and barbaric actions, the commandos received medals.

If silence has many virtues, this is no longer the case when chaos becomes the result of silence.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Alliance of Civilizations is neither an international organization nor a regional committee. Neither is it an alliance in the traditional sense of the word. As I see it, this Alliance cultivates high human ideals and is a melting pot for these higher principles which put humankind in its proper place as the maker of civilization. Therefore in order to fulfill its role, this Alliance needs to create a safe international environment where the culture of peace prevails. This principle was adopted by UNESCO decades ago but unfortunately some are still dithering when it comes to implementation.

This culture of peace that I am referring to is the kind that establishes civilization and is part and parcel of civilization itself. It is a practical application, not a mere slogan. It stems from the conviction that constructive dialogue is the basis for change. The success of such a dialogue necessitates the exchange of messages openly with the others so it does not become a dialogue of the deaf. This is the objective context of the required dialogue at all levels. A dialogue that requires knowing the other closely and listening to them without arrogance or asking them to give up their principles.

Let us take a closer look at events surrounding us which are causing us concern and becoming all too permanent features in our lives. Features which do not relate to the values of the millennium, as we would like them to be. But they also are a reminder that we live in a small village and what barriers exist between our countries are in fact easily penetrable. This in turn calls on us to resort to wisdom and good behavior in solving our common problems and implementing approaches based on deep thinking away from rigidness and narrow political considerations.

In this regard, I feel that the Alliance of Civilizations, when adopting the four pillars of education, youth, media and immigration, represents a solid ground and fertile soil for cooperation to achieve the objectives of Millennium Development Goals.

I mentioned earlier what the Alliance can achieve in relation to the questions of youth and education, be it in protecting education in times of conflict and instability or protecting youth from economic violence and what might lead them into extremism. In the same context I see that the media needs from us more discussion and cooperation because the media is closely linked to sustainable development and also the Millennium Development Goals. The media can be a vehicle and tool of bringing cultures together.

Therefore we should never show leniency to those who deliberately target journalists in order to silence the courageous voices which are trying to reveal the truth. This targeting of journalists reached its peak when 742 were killed in different parts of the world, 171 in Iraq, alone which makes it one of the most dangerous places in the world over the past decade. These barbaric acts have reached such a state that we have no choice but to act. And this because the media which works towards bringing cultures together rather than polarizing them is the type of media which is required to serve the aims of the Alliance of Civilizations and the Millennium Development Goals.

A responsible and objective media can aid us in finding solutions and channels to facilitate dialogue which will benefit us all and help free us from the shackles of the past. This will help us enter into dialogues with an open mind and a clear will since no-one can hope to find the solutions on their own. It is true that we have struggles internally with those who do not want the Alliance to be successful. These forces may appear under guises in each country but have one common objective, and that is for the language of extremism to prevail and to instill the culture of fear and spirit of isolation. It is therefore in our common interest to work with the media in order to overcome these forces and work towards the agreed and shared principle.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Neither the Alliance of Civilizations nor the Millennium Development Goals can hope to move forward unless there is an understanding as to this common perspective, a perspective which can protect our planet from continuous conflicts and wars. These are conflicts which have drained our natural resources and inflicted great damage on our habitat and environment. The use of cluster bombs, depleted uranium and white phosphorus in the Second Gulf War for example has resulted in long-term damage to our Arab region.

If we were to call things by their proper names, these weapons which range from explosives to biological, chemical nuclear and radioactive, have a very destructive impact which can damage both people and the environment and which makes our region both now and in the future suffer from various diseases, cancers, lymphatic and other tumors and congenital defects.

Of course the damage does not stop here. There is the eco-system where radioactive materials are polluting both water and food sources. All of this carries warning signs of more damage to come for future generations unless quick solutions are found. Otherwise we will leave nothing but death and destruction to our future generations.

The Alliance of Civilizations will not be able to help achieve the aim of realizing the Millennium Development Goals without our renewed solidarity over an issue which I find of the utmost importance - and that is respecting the principles of democracy. If we really want theses principles, the first thing we need to do is to accept the will and the choice of the people as they express it. And the international community has to respect their choice. There is little point in free elections only to find the parties from the international communities doing their utmost to subvert the will of the people and depose those whom the people have chosen freely. And this just because those in the international community do not approve of the people’s choice.

In this way they are both punishing the people and disrespecting their will. Furthermore, they are punishing them for their democratic choice through sanctions and deprivation. What kind of democracy is this? Are we supposed to accept that democracy needs to be fabricated and the will of the people usurped unless rubber-stamped by the international community in advance?

Is this really all we can aspire to having been bombarded day and night about the virtues of democracy?

Democracy cannot be measured unless it fulfils our inner needs and expectations as well as our specific cultures and traditions - and not just to the degree it serves governments and their outside interests. We need to reiterate the basic and fundamental meaning of democracy as an expression of the choice of the people as expressed by their own free will and not imposed by others, a choice which the people find compatible with their fundamental rights and aspirations.

Democracy is not just a voting mechanism. It is a way of life where citizens can enjoy their rights fully, including their rights of education, healthcare, stable jobs, freedom of expression and development.

Ladies and Gentleman. I have tried today to present to you briefly my point of view regarding a number of issues which I deem very important for the Alliance and civilizations and the future of human development.

I strive to present this to your from the point of an Arab Muslim woman who believes that the Alliance of Civilizations and the co-existence of cultures will not be achieved unless the individual feels at ease with himself and his culture.

I have put forward the number of problems we face in the Middle East which we need to face openly and honestly and the many preconceived ideas of the ‘other’ which we need to reconsider urgently. But the West also needs to in its turn do the same.

In the context in building an Alliance of civilization and shared cultures the West too needs to reconsider how it has portrayed Muslims in the past and present so that together we can correct what we are able to and, in as much as we can, forgive each other.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The development of societies is linked to their abilities to be open with each other and to recognize shared communalities and resort to a spirit of tolerance when faced with difficulties. All of this is conditional upon on some honest self-searching and I repeat once more that none of this is possible unless education becomes a natural right for every individual. Not only that but education also relies on affecting real changes in content and methodology. Because education is the bedrock of building the individual and the formation of his culture through which he will derive his worldview. Therefore undoubtedly the culture of world peace relies on education to develop the innovative capabilities of future generations to be more tolerant.

Man was not put on this earth to live on his own but to coexist with others. This definitely requires possessing a common moral vision and true solidarity by countries and civic society organizations under the banner of the Alliance of Civilizations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Five years have passed since the launch of this Alliance. It’s a rather short period of time considering the complexity of problems faced by international relations and the huge effort required to deal with them. We must also note that positive developments in many different fields have also taken place during this period, including the expansion of the membership base of the countries joining this Alliance. This expansion is indicative of increasing trust and interest in this Alliance and also comes as a result of the efforts exerted by the joint Turkish/Spanish presidency and the good example set by President Sampaio all for whom I have the greatest respect and appreciation.

And through our joint efforts, we can look forward to the future prospects of the Alliance in the next decade. Of course this puts us face-to-face with a formidable challenge. We must be aware that achieving the four pillars of the Alliance in harmony with the Millennium Development Goals is not just a matter of wishful thinking.

It is subject to the extent to which we are committed to achieving these pillars and is also dependent on our firm conviction that this is a fundamental pre-condition, not just mere luxury. If we want to enter into a second decade of this millennium different to the one we are saying good-bye to, this is of course vital and necessary if we whole-heartedly believe that the Alliance of Civilizations is a way of life and not just an immediate or circumstantial reaction to events.

Only then will the third millennium truly be a millennium of development, truth, justice and equality.

Thank you very much.