Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, attended the inauguration of the Fez Forum

Last updated Nov 22, 2022

Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, is currently taking part in the ninth global forum of the alliance of civilizations’ inaugural session in Fez.

The forum, which is hosted by the Spiritual Capital of the Kingdom of Morocco on the 22nd and 23rd of November, will be attended by nearly 50 member states represented at the ministerial level.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s leadership in fostering harmony, understanding, and respect for one another.

Moratinos stated, that Morocco and His Majesty King Mohammed VI have demonstrated a model policy of mutual respect and played a crucial role in promoting peace, moderation, understanding, and reconciliation between different countries in an interview with the Arab Maghreb Press Agency (MAP) the day following the 9th Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC), held in Fez on November 22–23.

The UN High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations highlighted that Morocco is a country at a crossroads where various cultures and influences have coexisted throughout its history and that it has been and continues to be a refuge of peace and coexistence under the rule of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The UN official highlighted that it is important to promote tolerance so that people can accept mutual respect, but it’s also important to understand one another, get to know one another better, and collaborate for a better world. Pope Francis’ visit and his meeting with HM the King further confirmed this understanding and this desire for dialogue, Antonio Guterres official noted.

The former chief of Spanish diplomacy, Moratinos, stated that Morocco maintains these principles of religious tolerance because the Jewish population there receives the highest level of recognition of any Arab nation.

HM the King had graciously agreed to hold this forum in Fez, which has a long history of religious tolerance and respect. Moratinos noted that Fez, a dynamic city that has experienced significant change, maintains all of this cultural heritage and historical legacy, making it a symbol of peace and tolerance, ensuring the success of this forum.