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Round Table: Dialogue among Civilizations United Nations, New York, 5 September 2000 Provisional verbatim transcription

Address by Sheikh Hamad bin Kahlifa Al-Thani (Qatar)

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani (interpretation from Arabic): The choice of "dialogue among civilizations" as a theme for this round table, an activity within the framework of the Millennium Assembly organized by the United Nations, was extremely opportune due to the utmost importance this subject has for the world in the post-cold-war era. We are, therefore, indebted to President Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran for his initiative in raising this subject. Indeed, it is not surprising that such a call should emanate from him because of his profound knowledge of both the Islamic and Western cultures and because of his past and present responsibilities for cultural affairs and his present responsibilities as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and to all members of the group involved in preparing for this noteworthy event. We would also like to express our sincere thanks and deep appreciation for the invitation extended to us to speak at this round table discussion and to address this outstanding assemblage of heads of State or Government.

The importance of this meeting is evident from the theme chosen for it, which is dialogue among civilizations. The theme is also indicative of the positions of those present here regarding the issue of the relationship between different civilizations and the fact that it is based on positive interaction which we all enrich. It is, accordingly, a most eloquent repudiation of those counter-claims that were circulated a few years ago and which culminated in a well-known essay entitled "The Clash of Civilizations" by American political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, published in the 1993 summer issue of the periodical Foreign Affairs.

In that essay Mr. Huntington gives expression to the dangerous idea that the post-cold-war world will witness an increase in conflicts within and among States because of cultural differences. Basing his theory on the premise that differences among civilizations are not only real but also fundamental, he asserts that in a world that is becoming smaller, shrinking distances are increasing interactions between the peoples of different civilizations, thus intensifying awareness of differences between civilizations. Local identities and loyalties and national ties are weakening and are being replaced by allegiance to religion. The growing power of the West is creating an increased animosity towards it among the members of other civilizations, and cultural characteristics and differences do not readily disappear but could, perhaps, acquire regional dimensions leading to the emergence of major regional groupings in North America, Europe and East Asia.

For those reasons he foresees the clash of civilizations occurring at two levels. At a lower level, namely within States, tensions would escalate between culturally different groups and may explode into violence as a result of rivalries for control over territory and people. At a higher level, States from different civilizations would compete among themselves in order to acquire greater military and economic power, to gain control over international institutions and third parties and spread their own political and religious values.

No doubt that hypothesis, although put forward by a well-respected intellectual such as Samuel Huntington, is replete with contradiction and is inconsistent with historical fact and reality. Moreover, it has dangerous political consequences. The shrinking of distances in the world as a result of scientific and technological breakthroughs might, for instance, result in bringing people closer together when they discover that despite differences in colour, religion and language, major common and shared interests bind them. Examples of such interests are many and varied, for instance, the hundreds of millions of viewers around the world who simultaneously enjoy a historic moment happening somewhere on the globe; political events taking place in a certain country; or those who watch transmitted pictorial programmes or sympathize with the same ideas. In addition, the process of modernization throughout the world may well weaken the effect of primary ethnic or linguistic loyalties in shaping people's consciousness. That theory also ignores the fact that substantial differences exist between members of the same culture. Have there not been wars between Britain and France, China and Japan, or Iraq and Kuwait? Yet in each of those examples the combatants belonged to the same cultural-religious group. Finally, it is still States, and not civilizations or cultures, that form the basic units in international relations. States act in accordance with the dictates of their strategic economic, political and military interests, and not necessarily on the basis of their cultural affiliations alone.

More important, however, are the dangerous political consequences inherent in this theory since it presumes that because people differ in their cultural affiliations this would, by definition, create tensions and conflicts between them. The most acute and the most perilous of such differences would be between the West and the rest of the world, particularly the Islamic and Confucian civilizations. Indeed, there is evidence that foreign-policy planners and some members of parliament in major Powers have started formulating policies for confronting countries of different cultures, civilizations and religions, and taking positions of both judge and jury towards them.

Proceeding from our Arab Islamic civilization we in fact utterly reject such orientations. In our view, differences among peoples are reasons for cooperation and collaboration for the welfare of all. Our Holy Koran states "We have made thee peoples and tribes that ye may know each other" and emphasizes that the best humans in the eyes of God are the most pious and the most dedicated to their work: "The most honoured among thee in the sight of God are the most pious". Islam's prophet Mohammad ? the prayers and praise of Allah be upon him ? stressed the same idea when he said that Arabs are not privileged over non-Arabs except in piety, and he added that it is the duty of Muslims to search for knowledge everywhere and in every group of humans when he said: "Seek knowledge even in China".

These values of tolerance have been reflected in our Arab Islamic civilization as characterized by acceptance by the adherents of other heavenly religions, Christianity and Judaism, and by the quest for the sources of knowledge in the old Indian, Persian and Greek civilizations. It is this openness to the various civilizations of the world as experienced by the Muslims at the peak of their civilization between the seventh and thirteenth centuries, that enabled them to make some brilliant contributions to human civilization and to become the link between what was then known as the West of the world and its East through Avicenna and others. This is a link between old and modern civilizations.

These traditions did not disappear. We in Qatar are proud that we were able to translate these values into a lifestyle that represents a fruitful interaction between people from different civilizations in Africa, Asia and Europe who had come to Qatar to assist its people to achieve their modern renaissance. In Qatar they find security and a dignified livelihood.

As regards the subjects for discussion in this round table, such as the definition of the parties to the dialogue, of civilizations and the role of the United Nations and its agencies, in this respect we believe, first, that the definiton of culture or civilization should not be rigid. It should not link culture exclusively to religion or language nor to geographical affiliation or shared historical experience alone. Second, the dialogue should be open between the representatives of all governments and peoples regardless of their diverse affiliations.

Without doubt, the United Nations, with its specialized agencies and numerous activities aimed at consolidating international peace and security and promoting friendly relations between peoples, is an outstanding example of this effective and fruitful dialogue between civilizations. Its member Governments represent most of the fundamental cultural groupings in the world today. They participate in its activities for the good of them all, be that by putting an end to armed conflicts and finding solutions for them, or by furthering international cooperation in many fields ? from drug control to catastrophe management ? and promoting economic and social development in all its aspects.

However, the danger in advocating the clash of civilizations by some of the mass media in the West requires specific action by the United Nations aimed at combating the various effects of this theory which would lead to an escalation of tensions in the world at a time when we were hoping that the end of the cold war would mean reducing the reasons for these tensions and bringing about harmony and concordance among all peoples regardless of any divergence in their cultural affiliations.

For this reason we could perhaps suggest that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) play an essential role in this respect. UNESCO's constitution states that it is in the minds of men that wars first start. Similarly, it is in the minds of people that any probable clash of civilizations would also start through an erroneous perception and a false mental image of other human groups. UNESCO may want to conduct the dialogue on strengthening relations between human groups from different cultural backgrounds at three levels: the first level to be comprised of a purely scientific activity involving scholars in history, politics and social sciences with a view to disclosing the truth of the claims of the so-called clash of civilizations and whether what appeared to be a clash of civilizations was in actual fact a result of either conflicting strategic, economic, political and military interests, or a manipulation of the basic loyalties of people in order to serve the narrow interests of political leaderships.

The second level would be mainly geared towards the men and women who are the opinion shapers in the public information field and all its media, with a view to exploring the best ways to clarify the effects of erroneous images that the media might convey of groups from differing cultures. This activity could also include the faculties and administrators of educational institutions, especially those responsible for deciding curriculums, and particularly those intended for the young in their early formative stages.

The third level would bring together political leaders and statesmen from different cultural groups with the aim of eliminating tensions between those groups and reducing the prospects for clashes between them.

Discussions that would take place at those three levels do not necessarily have to stay confined within the walls of UNESCO or the United Nations. Their proceedings and findings should rather be made available on the widest possible scale through television, radio and the press, as well as books and electronic information systems.

We in Qatar are ready to participate at all three of the proposed levels should recommendations materialize to transform them into reality, or in any other activities conducted for this purpose through the United Nations or its specialized agencies. Moreover, in appreciation of the important task of the committee of wise men, the first session of which will be hosted by Brazil, we would welcome hosting the second session of that committee in Qatar. Naturally we would provide it with all the facilities to ensure its functioning in a smooth and fruitful manner.

We believe that dialogue is a way of enriching our cultures. Therefore we have great hope that the results of this meeting will help us. May God guide us all so that we can serve the best interests of the human family.

Mr. Matsuura: I now invite His Excellency, Mr. Eduard A. Shevardnadze, President of Georgia to take the floor.

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