Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson for the High-Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Helsinki – September 5, 2013
The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser wrapped up Thursday an official visit to Finland where he held a number of meetings with Finnish officials that included H.E. President Sauli Niinisto, President of the Republic of Finland and H.E. Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, the Foreign Minister as well as the Speaker of the Parliament and a number of ministers and high-ranking officials in the Finnish Government.
Aiming at strengthening areas of cooperation between the Alliance and members of the UNAOC Group of Friends and other stakeholders, the High Representative held a series of brainstorming sessions with Nordic partners, in which he discussed means of advancing interreligious and intercultural approaches to conflict prevention, reconciliation and the interconnectedness between culture and the post 2015 Development agenda.
Additionally, Mr. Al-Nasser met with representatives of the major media outlets in Finland, members of the Allianssi (the National Youth Council of Finland) and representatives of educational institutions and businesses.
While in Helsinki, the High Representative gave a public lecture at Helsinki University entitled: “Dialogue Between Cultures and Nordic Societies – How the Alliance of Civilizations could enrich Nordic Involvement” (for the full text of the lecture, click here).