Geneva, 9 November 2021 – The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Under-Secretary-General Mr. Miguel Moratinos and the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, together with the two co-sponsors of UNAOC, Spain and Turkey inaugurated on Monday, 8 November 2021 the office of UNAOC located in the Library Building at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Foreign Minister of Spain, H.E. Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno and the Permanent Representative of Turkey to UNOG represented their governments.
USG Miguel Moratinos expressed his appreciation for the support provided by the Director-General of UNOG and her office throughout the process despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“The office will allow UNAOC to maintain consistent engagement and strengthen collaboration with Member States in Geneva and the Geneva-based United Nations entities,” he said.
“We are delighted to welcome a new tenant at the Palais des Nations with the opening of this UNAOC office,” UN Geneva Director-General Valovaya said. “Uniting people in solidarity is a central theme of the Common Agenda launched by the UN Secretary-General this September. A stronger commitment to solidarity and cooperation is needed to prevent the breakdown of our world and embark on a more positive future. The UN Alliance of Civilizations can contribute to this goal in many unique ways”.
UNAOC head office is located in New York where the UNAOC Secretariat is based.
Spain and Turkey have been the co-sponsors of UNAOC since its creation in 2005. They continue to provide consistent political and financial support to UNAOC. Today, UNAOC also benefits from the political support of 127 UN Member States, one non-Member State, and 28 international organizations representing all continents, societies, and cultures.
To celebrate the occasion, UNAOC, UNOG and Fundación ONUART co-organized a concert in the evening titled “One Humanity Concert” featuring the renowned tenor Mr. Jonas Kaufmann. The concert in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber was attended by H.E. the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and the Foreign Minister of Spain, H.E. Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno and a number of UN Principals.
For any queries contact: Ms. Nihal Saad, UNAOC Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative, saadn@un.org.
For any queries / media interviews (with Mr. Moratinos and/or Mr. Kaufmann), contact:
Ms. Nihal Saad, UNAOC Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative, saadn@un.org; +1 646 255 46 64.