UN Envoy: Russia Can Boost Alliance of Civilizations

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. Russia, as an important player on the global stage, could become part of a new impetus for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, said in an interview with TASS.

"There is still room for diplomacy and mutual understanding. And that is what the Alliance can bring to the new international governance in the future. And, of course, we count on the Russian Federation because you are a big partner, a big actor in the international arena and we need Russia to be part of this new momentum," he said.

The Alliance of Civilizations is the best platform "to put everybody in equal footing," Moratinos noted. "You know, the last global forum, from Fez through Cascais to Riyadh, the last two forums we had more or less a participation of 110-104 member states that took the floor in the meeting, 70-80 took the floor, expressing the support of the alliance, expressing the need of respect, expressing the capacity to maintain their own legacy, their own identity, their own culture but at the same time working together to create a common space of solidarity, harmony and this beautiful world. <…> So, I think at this stage we have to use the Alliance as the platform where everybody can express their views," he said.