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High Level Political Dialogue of the Group of Friends:

“Reinforcing our commitment to the Alliance”

Your Excellency Mr. President,

Mr. Secretary General of the United Nations

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

Managing diversity within and outside our borders is going to be one of the main challenges for the international community in the coming years. We live in an increasingly polarised world. But I refuse to accept that cultures and civilizations are only doomed to confrontation or war. In order for this not to happen, we have gathered here to discuss how to develop conditions for improving intercultural relations.

The Alliance responds to this need to overcome current prejudices, misconceptions, stereotypes, and polarisation. We need to keep a constant dialogue, a polylogue if I may, with each other; and I welcome this opportunity provided by the Alliance.

 Recognition of human universality involves a recognition of the many ways or modes of being and thinking. Respect for cultural and religious diversity is a responsibility of the state first of all, as this respect is embodied and enforced by law. But we as individuals can also make an enormous  difference – since the community of different but equal is within our reach only when we respect humanity as a value in itself.  

Mr. Chairman,

Tolerance for the “other” or for the “different” has been predominant in Lithuania since the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of the 14th century, as reflected in the letters of Grand Duke Gediminas to citizens of European states, or in the first State Code of 1529 where the equal status of citizens despite their religion or nationality was enshrined. Lithuania is a country where cultures and civilizations criss-crossed, competed and peacefully co-existed throughout the centuries.

 Being at the crossroads, however, made us all the more vulnerable to breaches of understanding or confrontations between the East and the West. We therefore know from our direct experience how important it is not to find ourselves at the borderline of cultures and/or civilizations once again. Human rights and democracy are the real antidotes to extremism, violence and intolerance. We hope that all our neighbours fully appreciate that as well. We are firmly convinced that establishment of a genuine dialogue among nations requires a universal commitment to human rights and their full application. Governments should be consistent in their support for human rights, good governance and democratic processes, the rule of law, and international law. The world should be moving towards consolidation based on common values of humanity, which are embodied in all civilizations.  Within the context of the Alliance of Civilizations, Lithuania would be willing to host a conference dealing with these issues in the future.

Mr. Chairman,

In my view, a high-level dialogue is only part of the road. What is also needed is practical action that makes a difference in peoples’ lives and helps shape a more open world view. I would like to highlight what the High Representative Mr. Sampaio referred to as the “glocal deliverables” – result oriented measures at the local level in order to achieve a global effect and what we are doing in Lithuania to that end.

Tolerance is not a spontaneous self-sustained growth. It requires concrete actions from both governments and civil societies. Sound legislation, effective law enforcement as well as education, youth and media policies play a critical role in eradicating all forms of intolerance.

The role of education and awareness-raising measures in combating intolerance is of the utmost importance. For many years we have seen activities in the field of tolerance building and fight against discrimination carried out by UNESCO. Lithuania also contributed to this process by hosting UNESCO Conference on Dialogue among Civilizations in 2001.

Since 2003 Lithuania has been implementing the Programme of Holocaust Education Activities, which aims to promote tolerance and respect for universal human values and mutual understanding, and to the formation of critical historical memory. The network of Tolerance Education centres has been established by the International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania. These centres implement the educational programme on Crimes of the Totalitarian Regimes, the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity and the Promotion of Tolerance. Such education offers ways of addressing issues of identity and contributes to the promotion of a greater understanding of and respect for different cultures, ethnicities, religions and beliefs.

Lithuania has adopted a National Anti-Discrimination Programme for 2006-2008. The programme is aimed at tackling intolerance and discrimination in all its forms, including discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, racial and national origin and others. Apart from the review of legal regulations in the field, the programme will seek to raise public awareness of different groups of the society, in highlighting the value of national, cultural and religious diversity, and thus in countering the stereotypes and misconceptions among different members of  the society.

The Government of Lithuania had developed Programme on Roma integration into Lithuania’s society as well as the Strategy and Action Plan for Integration of National Minorities. The challenges of a changing demographic situation, an ageing society, market globalisation as well as migration trends will see better social inclusion policies and fight against discrimination as part of a  National Strategy for the European Year of Equal Opportunities in 2007.  The Lithuanian National Strategy of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008 is another tool to foster mutual understanding and create an integrated versatile civil society, stimulate new public and individual initiatives, enhance  regional cooperation.

Mr. Chairman,

 In essence, the call for an Alliance is a call to all of those who embrace diversity as a means of progress rather than a threat, and who believe in constructive dialogue, in the dignity of humankind across religion, ethnicity, race, and culture. I hope that today’s fruitful discussions and shared examples of best practices will stimulate us all to further work in the field of coexistence and cooperation.  

Thank you.