Lisbon (UNA) – The Secretary-General of the King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), Dr. Zuhair Al-Harthi, met with the Senior Advisor to the King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, and President of the Annalinda Euro-Mediterranean Intergovernmental Dialogue Organization, Dr. André Azoulay, at the Center’s headquarters in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, during his participation in the 28th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which concluded in the Portuguese city of Cascais on November 2024, XNUMX. During the meeting, ways to enhance cooperation in the field of dialogue between followers of religions and cultures were discussed within the framework of the shared vision between KAICIID and the Kingdom of Morocco, which aims to spread the values of peace and consolidate initiatives for mutual understanding among global communities.
During the meeting, Dr. André Azoulay, Advisor to the King of Morocco, praised “the efforts of the international organization KAICIID in spreading the culture of dialogue between followers of religions and cultures in various societies around the world,” adding that “this role is an extension of the Kingdom’s role in supporting global and regional peace efforts, as the leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is making great efforts to support and spread peace and dialogue between followers of religions and cultures, which the peoples of the region need, especially in light of the major historical transformations that they are currently undergoing.”
He said: “The leadership in the Kingdom of Morocco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia share the same vision regarding supporting the efforts of the international community in promoting peace, moderation, coexistence and tolerance, and rejecting and combating the discourse of violence, extremism and hatred, as a main pillar for achieving more opportunities for development and progress in all societies.”
For his part, the Secretary-General of the International Center for Dialogue, Dr. Zuhair Al-Harthi, expressed his thanks to the Advisor to His Majesty the King of Morocco, Dr. André Azoulay, explaining that “the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco includes exceptional models of coexistence between followers of religions and cultures, such as in the city of Essaouira in southern Morocco, which witnessed an important initiative by His Excellency Dr. Azoulay, which is represented in the restoration of an ancient house in (the Mellah), the Jewish quarter of the city, to be a (House of Memory) and a model of coexistence between Jews and Muslims, as (KAICID) is keen to partner in and support such initiatives.”
Al-Harthi said: “While I commend the role of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the State of Morocco in supporting global peace efforts and interfaith dialogue on the international scene, and promoting a culture of tolerance and diversity, I reiterate KAICIID’s keenness to strengthen partnership and cooperation with relevant Moroccan organizations, and the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Organization for Intercultural Dialogue, which works between Euro-Mediterranean governments and is headed by Dr. André Azoulay, in a way that serves international efforts to spread peace around the world.”
At the end of the meeting, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to the First Advisor to the King of Morocco, Dr. André Azoulay, and his efforts on the international scene in supporting the efforts of KAICIID and spreading the values calling for dialogue, tolerance and coexistence among followers of different religions and cultures in all societies.
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