UN General Assembly
2018

Our world today is suffering a crisis of extremism and fanaticism that manifests itself in the rejection of others who are different and of their culture, religion, ethnicity and civilization — in essence, the rejection of their very existence. This crisis is likely to deteriorate. No country is safe from this crisis and its destructive effects on societies and States, because it will implode them from within. The United Nations — and before it, the League of Nations — has been unable to prevent wars, maintain peace or achieve justice, especially in our region. One of the main reasons for that is because there is no international culture of peace based on mutual understanding and coexistence. There is therefore an urgent need for dialogue among religions, cultures and races. We need international cultural institutions that specialize in spreading the culture of dialogue and peace.