UN says politics lies behind rift between west and Muslims

[Briar]

UN says politics lies behind rift between west and Muslims

Brian Whitaker

Politics - not religion - lies at the root of a growing divide between Muslim and western societies, according to a report presented to the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, yesterday.

An international panel of scholars, politicians and religious leaders warned that cultural stereotypes were turning negotiable disputes into "seemingly intractable identity-based conflicts" and that the clash-of-civilisations theory has obscured "the real nature of the predicament the world is facing".

In their recommendations the 20-strong panel, which included Nobel peace prize winner Desmond Tutu and former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, suggested steps towards defusing the crisis, including an urgent reinvigoration of the Middle East peace process and initiatives aimed at the young.

The Alliance of Civilisations is a UN initiative sponsored by Spain, a predominantly Catholic country, and Turkey, which is 99% Muslim.
The report, which Mr Annan commissioned last year, blamed current tensions on a combination of western policies and trends in Muslim societies.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1946956,00.html

So, will our ever honest policians dismiss this as UN based or just ignore it altogether? It certainly doesn't serve their purposes as they seek to base ever more aggressive policies on a demonisation of the "other".

[papau]

1. Kofi wants to see the positive -which may not be there - more below

Kofi Annan speech: "...In the 21st century, we remain hostage to our sense of grievances, and to feelings of entitlement. Our narratives have become our prison, paralyzing discourse and hindering understanding. Thus, many people throughout the world, particularly in the Muslim world, see the West as a threat to their beliefs and values, their economic interests, their political aspirations. Evidence to the contrary is simply disregarded or rejected as incredible. Likewise, many in the West dismiss Islam as a religion of extremism and violence, despite a history of relations between the two in which commerce, cooperation and cultural exchange have played at least as important a part as conflict"

From news article "The current predicament from which much of the Muslim world suffers cannot be attributed solely to foreign interference," the report http://www.unaoc.org/repository/report.htm continued, saying that "an internal debate between progressive and regressive forces" is generating deep divisions.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20584&Cr=alliance&Cr1=civilization

Annan refutes notion of 'clash of civilizations,' points to youth as key to end mistrust

Kofi Annan
13 November 2006 – Rejecting the notion of a clash of civilizations or religions, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=2299 for better education and opportunities for youth, as well as the resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, to stem mounting mistrust and violence between Islam and the West.

“I believe it is imperative to work on both fronts at once – seeking both to improve social and cultural understanding between peoples, and at the same time to resolve political conflicts,” Mr. Annan said in Istanbul, Turkey upon accepting the final report http://www.unaoc.org/repository/report.htm of the High-Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations http://www.unaoc.org/ , an initiative he launched last year to tackle fear and suspicion between communities following a proposal by the Prime Ministers of Spain and Turkey.

The report puts forward a range of proposals in the area of education, media, youth and migration to build bridges and promote a culture of respect. It also calls for a UN High Representative to assist the Secretary-General to defuse crises that arise at the intersection of culture and politics, along with measures aimed at restarting the Middle East peace process and encouraging political pluralism in Muslim countries.

Religious differences were not at the core of the problem, Mr. Annan stressed. “We must start by reaffirming – and demonstrating – that the problem is not the Koran, nor the Torah or the Bible,” he said.

Legal measures to ensure freedom of religion, to end discrimination and enforce rights of minorities were also not the total answer, he added.

“Any strategy to build bridges must depend heavily on education – not just about Islam or Christianity, but about all religions, traditions and cultures, so that myths and distortions can be seen for what they are,” he said.

In addition, he called for increased opportunities for young people, offering them a credible alternative to the hate and extremism. “We must give them a real chance to join in improving the world order, so that they no longer feel the urge to smash it,” he said.

At the same time, Mr. Annan cautioned that such measures would have little impact if fear and suspicion continues to be fuelled by political conflicts in which Muslims are seen to be the victims of military action by non-Muslim powers – particularly the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

“As long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation; and, as long as Israelis are blown up in buses and in dance halls: so long will passions everywhere be inflamed,” he said.

Referring to the controversial depictions of the Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspaper earlier this year and the violent reaction to them, Mr. Annan also reiterated his view that freedom of expression must be exercised with sensitivity, especially when dealing with symbols and traditions that are sacred to other people.

The High-Level Group is co-chaired by Mehmet Aydin, Minister of State of Turkey, and Federico Mayor, President of the Culture of Peace Foundation.

Participants include such international figures as Mohamed Khatami, the former Iranian president; Ali Alatas, Indonesia’s former Foreign Minister; South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the religious historian Karen Armstrong.

[sam sarrha]

2. and we KNOW our diplomat 'Yosemite Sam' Bolton will be at the forefront of this peace march..!!

[Briar]

3. If we don't look at this objectively

and reject the Clash of Civilisations propaganda, there won't be a positve, just a closing of minds and a retreat behind mutually antagonistic walls. The new Cold War, just what the right wants, an endless justification for militarism and war.

[papau]

4. Objectively - Islam needs its reformation - Our and its fundies want war -

and there will be war since Islam's fundies use terrorism as a tool.

But you're correct - we must try to avoid that clash turning into war, even if it means condemning women under fundi Islam to a few more centuries of few human rights.

Curious how we charged after the secular Islam in Iraq and now are looking at Iran which is moving forward on female rights despit fundie control - of course Iran's fundie dictatorship is funding terrorists, but then the Saudi King obey's the same type of fundi types, and 911 was Saudi, and Saudi women rights seem very hard to find.

I hope a reformation hits Islam - soon.

[bemildred]

5. US politicians will do their best to ignore and discredit this.

Trying to get along and work out ones differences will be seen as a threat. The presence of such as Khatami will be used to discredit the idea.

[Demeter]

6. Bullshit! OIL Lies Between Muslims and the West

The Muslims have it, the West wants it, and the proceeds are the source of all contention.

If the Muslims had the wits to use the proceeds wisely, they could hold off the West, with help from those parts of the West which aren't total pirates.

If the West had the honor to use power wisely, we'd be a Green world of alternative energy.

But the West wants to pump and exploit. The Muslims, under the oppression of monarchy, ignorance, tribalism, suspicion (justified, unfortunately), and persecution, want to be left alone. The Muslim strongmen want to try to satisfy their insatiable greed, not their populations.

And so it goes.

[libertarian2008]

7. Nope..UN wrong as usual..

UN is as clueless as usual.

This conflict is , at its core,about religion.
Muslims and Christians have been going at it for a thousand years.