Ibrahimović attends the 11th UNAOC Global Forum in Riyadh: Dialogue and mutual respect as the foundation of peace

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović participated in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, Miguel Ángel Moratinos. The event, held in Riyadh, was opened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

This year's Forum, marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Alliance of Civilizations, was held under the theme "Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity - Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World". It brought together foreign ministers, high-level officials, representatives of international organisations, academia and civil society from around the world.

During his address at the meeting of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, Ibrahimović emphasised that the Alliance of Civilizations represents an important platform for intercultural dialogue. He further underlined that Montenegro continues to believe that the Alliance's four priority areas of action - youth, media, migration and education - are today more relevant than ever, as they form the foundation for building trust, strengthening mutual understanding and overcoming divisions in the contemporary world marked by rising intolerance, hate speech, disinformation and information manipulation.

Ibrahimović expressed concern over the escalation of conflicts, humanitarian crises, growing distrust among states, disregard for international law and violations of human rights, noting that the rise of intolerance, xenophobia, extremism and radicalisation poses a serious threat not only to individual societies but also to global stability. He stressed that responding to these challenges requires a comprehensive and coherent approach, with the active participation of all stakeholders - from governments and civil society to religious communities and academia.

In his remarks, Ibrahimović linked Montenegro's European path with the values promoted by the Alliance of Civilizations, highlighting efforts to make Montenegro the next member of the European Union.

Referring in particular to the experience of the Western Balkans, Ibrahimović recalled that conflicts are often most severe among neighbours, where differences are smallest, emphasising that, thirty years after the conflicts in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, their consequences are still present. As he stated, this experience serves for Montenegro as a strong reminder of the fragility of peace, but also as a lasting motivation to keep regional cooperation, constructive dialogue, respect for diversity and social cohesion high on the list of national priorities.

Speaking about the theme of the meeting, Ibrahimović stressed that Montenegro views the world as multilateral and based on values, international law, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Only through mutual respect, accompanied by an equal commitment to respecting international law, can we achieve true understanding and mutual respect as the foundation for lasting peace and prosperity for all, Ibrahimović concluded.