Minister Gordan Jandroković participated in Alliance of Civilizations conference in Sarajevo

After the plenary session of the conference entitled Unlocking Diversity to Strengthen the Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation in South Eastern Europe, the Alliance’s final declaration was adopted – the Sarajevo Declaration

After the plenary session of the conference entitled Unlocking Diversity to Strengthen the Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation in South Eastern Europe, the Alliance’s final declaration was adopted – the Sarajevo Declaration. By that, the foreign ministers of the countries of South Eastern Europe, Spain and Turkey confirmed their dedication to the principles of the charters, convention and declarations of the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE and UNESCO. The Sarajevo Declaration is guided by the principles of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, recognizing the Regional Cooperation Council’s efforts in building peace, democracy, the respect for human rights, economic growth, and security.

Minister Jandroković said he was convinced this initiative would stimulate the countries in the region to take the lead in promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, pointing out that the Alliance of Civilizations had achieved significant progress in establishing intercultural dialogue. The Republic of Croatia, added the minister, as one of the initiators of this regional conference, supports the setting up of a common framework for inter-border cooperation, cultural understanding, as well as peace and stability in the region.

He also expressed hope in the creation of new opportunities following the region’s integration into the European community, along with the conviction that the Sarajevo Declaration as well as the Regional Strategy would strengthen human rights, security, dignity, tolerance and respect in the region. He added that Croatia would support the goals of the Alliance and regional initiative presented today in Sarajevo. Croatia also supports inter-regional initiatives directed at promoting interethnic, intercultural and inter-religious respect and tolerance, and confirms the adopted Sarajevo Declaration as well as the three-dimensional concept that the Regional Strategy for Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation in South Eastern Europe is based on, said Minister Jandroković.

The Alliance of Civilizations, a political initiative of the UN secretary-general, realizes its goals through two basic political instruments: the National Plan and the Regional Strategy for Intercultural Dialogue and Cooperation. The regional strategies are based on the existing international, regional and local initiatives on inter-border cooperation, as well as on bridging and respecting the differences. They rest on the three-dimensional concept of overcoming the stereotypes and prejudice, along with the promotion of tolerance, trust and democratic societies, intensification of personal contacts, and creation of room for the exchange of ideas and experiences in an environment of trust. The Regional Strategy for South Eastern Europe aims to stimulate sustainable development, peace and respect for human rights in the region, focusing primarily on education and the youth, taking into account the importance of media and migration.

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