Incidents like controversial movie cause of religious hatred: Khar

During a ministerial meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar regretted that the instances of religious intolerance and acts of incitement like the release of blasphemous video - that has sparked to protests in Muslim countries - were on the rise.These incidents are not only sowing the seeds of of religious hatred, discrimination and violence among and within societies but are also a serious threat to the maintenance of international peace and security, she maintained. She lauded the UN-backed initiative that seeks to promote better cross-cultural relations worldwide, and called for stepped up efforts to promote interfaith harmony in the wake of the release of the anti-Islam video.The United Nations as well as all member states have the duty to urgently address these negative trends, she said while adding that the member states must take appropriate actions to ensure protection against such acts in accordance with relevant international law. The UN, in collaboration with the alliance, must increase its efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue and harmony, she emphasized.The Alliance was launched in 2005 through the initiative of Spain and Turkey, underthea aehis of the UN. Shortly after the release of the video, the Alliance launched an initiative to ensure that the voices of moderation were not silenced by the vocal and violent minorities on any side. Called “Represent Yourself,” the Twitter campaign engaged more than 3 million people in just a few days.“This is one small example,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the meeting. “Time and time again, the Alliance has shown how it can help open minds and seek change on the ground. It does so by empowering youth around the world, inviting tomorrow’s leaders to take part in cross-cultural exchanges, training journalists to keep the public better informed and much more.”Mr. Ban ki-Moon also announced designating Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the President of the Assembly’s 66th session, as High Representative for the Alliance. Al-Nasser replaces Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal, who led the initiative for five years. Sampaio will step down following the next Alliance forum, which is scheduled for February 2013 and will focus on the issue of responsible leadership.As the Alliance renews its leadership, the Secretary-General urged participants to renew their commitment, engagement and support. “The challenges we face are clear and connected. It is our duty to build the alliances of understanding that can help secure progress on the many critical issues we face. Let us make the most of this invaluable platform, he argued.- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in New York