The first Alliance of Civilizations forum opened Tuesday in Madrid with the theme of improving dialogue and understanding between Western and Muslim countries.
"Never in our lifetime has there been a more desperate need for constructive and committed dialogue, among individuals, among communities, among cultures, among and between nations," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said as he opened the two-day forum.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero presented the alliance idea to the U.N. General Assembly in September 2004 after the March 11, 2004, terrorist bombings in Madrid which left 191 people dead.
Zapatero said at the meeting that the Alliance hoped to prevent a "clash of civilizations by promoting security, understanding, tolerance and mutual respect in a globalized world."
Around 350 delegates, including government members, representatives of international organizations and civil societies attended the forum.
Source:Xinhua
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