UN Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.

• Position: United Nations - Brief Article

In 1998, the General Assembly unanimously declared the year 2001 as the "United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations". The concept of a dialogue among civilizations was introduced by President Seyed Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and aimed at increasing mutual understanding between cultures through an active exchange of ideas, aspirations and visions for the future.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization played a large role in promoting the dialogue by disseminating information and furthering education on the subject, organizing conferences, seminars, round-table discussions and literary events attended by such notable figures as Yusef Komunyakaa and loyce Carol Oates. A book, Crossing the Divide, which calls dialogue among civilizations as "a soft tool of diplomacy", is the result of a collaboration between a group of eminent persons appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Giandomenico Picco, the Secretary-General's Personal Representative for the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.

The concept of dialogue took on greater importance in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September. Less than two months after the tragic event, the General Assembly held a two-day debate on the Year of Dialogue, which began on 8 November 2001 and drew 56 speakers, including three heads of State and Government and ten foreign ministers.

Delegates from several countries took the floor to denounce the attacks as counter to the universal values of tolerance, liberal and inclusive democracy, and the rule of law. Others urged the United Nations to conduct the dialogue with the purpose of removing the negative impact of cold-war mentality from international relations and promoting the principles of equality and democracy in its place. President Khatami stressed that all cultures, civilizations and faiths were bound to cohabit the same world by the "inviolable verdict of technology". It was, therefore, imperative to foster empathy among the world's cultures. "Having compassion for others should not coerce them to assimilate within us, or to succumb to our values. Compassion should come unconditionally", he said.

Wolfgang Schussel, Federal Chancellor of Austria, said that dialogue should "aim for the children, our future. They all ... need to be taught the merits of mutual respect and solidarity." In this way, he said, they would grow up with an appreciation for diversity.

Alfonso Valdivieso...