Civilians on both sides need this opportunity to resume their regular lives without fear."Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and hoped that the truce will pave the way to achieve peace between the two parties.
On the opening session of the 6th Global Forum of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, Friday, Ban Ki-moon said the ceasefire was essential to facilitate humanitarian relief and recovery effort of every sovereign people in Gaza.
"Any violation will be an utterly irresponsible action. Civilians on both sides need this opportunity to resume their regular lives without fear," Ban Ki-moon said.
The strangulation of Gaza over the half century of occupation should be ended, he stressed.
"I remain hopeful that the extended ceasefire will allow for political process, which is the only way to achieve lasting peace," Ban Ki-moon said.
The forum was opened on Friday by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki moon, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, and High Representative of UNAOC Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.
On his opening remarks, UNAOC High Representative Al-Nasser stated that the crises in some Middle East, Asian, and African countries have clearly demonstrated that societies were grappling with identity-based tension.
"At the same time, we observe that identity is being used to divide people rather than unite them toward a common purpose," Al-Nasser said.
The forum has focused on the overarching theme "Unity in Diversity" and reaffirmed the importance of common and shared values as a unifying factor in a multi-divergent world.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, meanwhile, noted that by accepting, embracing, and celebrating diversity, people can promote mutual tolerance and respect for each other.
"Diversity is a source of strength and not of weakness," he stated.
Minister Natalegawa also highlighted that the challenges in addressing unity in diversity were the willingness to respect the voices, votes, and aspirations of the people, including that of the minority.
The UNAOC was established by the United Nations on July 14, 2015, at the initiative of Kofi Anan, former UN secretary general, and cosponsored by former prime minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the aim of promoting "Harmony among Civilization."
The alliance maintains a global network of partners, including states, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations, and private sectors to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse nations and communities.
As many as 106 representatives and international organizations from various countries and around 1.3 thousand participants attended the forum held on August 29-30, in Nusa Dua, Bali.
(T.A059/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: Aditya E.S. Wicaksono
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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