Annan urges pluralism, diversity in global peace

OTTAWA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- All countries must play a role in managing pluralism and diversity to deliver peace, security and prosperity in the 21st century, says former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

Delivering the annual lecture at the Global Center for Pluralism, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said Thursday that diversity is a key source of strength for societies in a globalized world, helping them become healthier, more stable and more prosperous.

"My long experience has taught me that, whatever our background, what unites us is far greater than what divides us. We have to learn from each other, making our different traditions and cultures a source of harmony and strength, not discord and weakness," Annan said.

Annan warned that a failure to manage pluralism and diversity could create a real risk of increasing social tension and division, which, he said, could lead to violence and conflict or even genocide and ethnic cleansing.

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