Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A meeting of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations was held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Dunyo news agency reported.

The UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos took part in the work of the event and the permanent members represented the member states of the organization. The heads of the foreign affairs agencies of Spain and Turkey delivered video messages.

The participants of the meeting discussed the progress made in the implementation of the Action Plan of the Alliance of Civilizations for 2019-2023, as well as the main priorities for further promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue, strengthening harmony and concord between different peoples, ethnic groups and confessions.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu welcomed the opening in November 2021 of the office of the Alliance of Civilizations in Geneva with the support of Turkey and Spain, which is designed to maintain intensive interaction with other international organizations, as well as to revitalize the work of the Alliance. The Foreign Minister announced plans to create a regional center of the Alliance in Istanbul in the near future.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno said that the Alliance of Civilizations, established in 2005, will remain an effective instrument of preventive diplomacy, contributing to the prevention and resolution of conflicts around the world. In his opinion, this can become an important part of the New Peace Agenda put forward by UN Secretary General António Guterres.

The Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the UN, Ambassador Bakhtiyor Ibragimov informed the participants of the event about the essence and significance of the state policy pursued in Uzbekistan to develop a culture of tolerance and humanism, to strengthen interethnic and interfaith harmony in society. Separately, the priority attention given in our country to ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their nationality and religious beliefs, was emphasized.

At present, representatives of more than 130 nations and nationalities live in peace and harmony in Uzbekistan, there are about 170 national cultural centers and friendship councils, as well as more than 2,200 religious organizations representing 16 confessions. It was noted that the Government of our country has created all the conditions for them to freely practice their faith, preserve and develop their culture, language, traditions and customs. As an example, it is indicated that in state educational institutions of the republic education is conducted in 7 languages, the National TV and Radio Company broadcasts its programs in 12 languages, and newspapers and magazines are published in 10 languages.

It was emphasized that strengthening the atmosphere of friendship and harmony, peace and stability in society is the most important factor and a necessary prerequisite for the sustainable development of Uzbekistan, the successful promotion of changes in the social, political, legal, economic, humanitarian and spiritual spheres, as well as increasing the international authority of our state.

It was especially noted that all the steps taken by the Government of Uzbekistan to ensure interethnic and interreligious tolerance are fully consistent with the priorities and goals of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. The commitment of our country to continue close cooperation with the UN, Member States and other interested parties, including the Alliance of Civilizations, in the implementation of the Action Plan for 2019-2023 was reaffirmed.

UN High Representative Miguel Moratinos highly appreciated the work being done in Uzbekistan to ensure intercultural and interfaith harmony, as well as the formation of a single and cohesive society.

The UN Alliance of Civilizations was established in 2005 as an initiative of former Secretary General Kofi Annan with the support of the governments of Spain and Turkey. The Group of Friends of the Alliance brings together 156 countries and international organizations that actively promote the goals and objectives of the Alliance aimed at strengthening interethnic, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and interaction at the global, regional and local levels.