Doha: The UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser, has expressed gratitude for the invitation he received from the Finnish foreign ministry and Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation to give a lecture at Helsinki University titled: “Dialogue Between Cultures and Nordic Societies – How the Alliance of Civilisations Could Enrich Nordic Involvement.”
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on his arrival in Doha late last night, Al Nasser praised the role Finland has played in maintaining international peace and security through mediation, which makes it a natural ally of UNAOC, which is a mechanism of preventive diplomacy or soft power for building peace in the hearts and minds of the coming generations.
The Qatari diplomat said UNAOC aimed to improve understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples across cultures and to reduce polarisation at the local and global levels. It helps develop more inclusive societies, in which diversity is experienced as an asset.
He said that the lecture was attended by a large number of Finnish government ministers, senior officials, diplomats, academics and media representatives.
During his visit, which wrapped up on Thursday, Al Nasser held a number of meetings with Finnish officials, including President Sauli Niinisto, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, the speaker of the parliament and a number of ministers and high-ranking officials in the Finnish government.
Al Nasser also held brainstorming sessions with Nordic partners aiming at strengthening areas of cooperation between the Alliance and members of the UNAOC Group of Friends and other stakeholders.
They also discussed means of advancing inter-religious and intercultural approaches to conflict prevention, reconciliation and the inter-connectedness between culture and the post-2015 development agenda.
He also met representatives of major media outlets in Finland, members of the Allianssi (the National Youth Council of Finland) and representatives of educational institutions and businesses.
QNA
