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On September 23, the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation hosted a round table ‘Public Diplomacy: Partnership for Peace and Harmony’. The event, timed to the International Day of Peace, was attended by representatives of state authorities and public organizations, universities, diplomatic corps and international organizations. In the hall and online gathered participants from more than 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Bahrain, Venezuela, Panama, Qatar, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic and others. The gathered watched the address of the UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres and observed a minute of silence in memory of those who died for the cause of peace. At the end of the event, a bell rang, referring to the traditional Peace Bell, which rings at the UN Headquarters on the International Day of Peace.
The roundtable discussed the values of peace and harmony, the process of forming a multipolar system, double standards and the possibilities of public diplomacy to encourage dialogue between peoples, respecting each other's traditions.
The round table was organized by the International Union of Non-Governmental Organisations “Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly”, the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on Interethnic, Interreligious Relations and Migration, and the Coordination Council of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on International Cooperation.
On a Tinkling String
Vladimir Zorin, Chairman of the Commission of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation on Interethnic, Interreligious Relations and Migration, member of the General Council of the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly opened the round table. In his welcoming remarks, he noted the exceptional importance of public diplomacy in peace-building:
“Civil society institutions always become a platform for constructive conversation. International dialogue, preservation of historical memory, support of youth initiatives - we work on the whole spectrum of these issues, they are in the Civic Chamber’ focus.”
Vladimir Zorin also noted that today society faces the challenges of countering the falsification of history and propaganda rhetoric. He also spoke about the “Leader of Public Diplomacy” contest, which is held jointly with the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly and is aimed at supporting public leaders from different countries and their activities to strengthen inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace and harmony.
“The International Day of Peace is on a tinkling string this year, and while we know that all wars end in peace, it must be fought for,” - said Andrei Belyaninov, Secretary General of the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly. - Today we have something to worry about. The transformation of the world order is taking place before our eyes, the phrase ‘local nuclear conflict’ enters our everyday life. Peace Day was established more than 40 years ago, but its relevance is only growing.”
Konstantin Kolpakov, Chairman of the Commission on International Humanitarian and Youth Cooperation of the Public Council under Rossotrudnichestvo, Head of the Department for International Sports Youth Cooperation and Tourism of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Council of Young Diplomats of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in his speech noted the need to lay the foundation for long-term friendship of a new multipolar fair and open world.
Culture of Peace
Vladimir Pavinsky, Deputy Director of the UN Information Centre in Moscow, read out a greeting to the roundtable participants on behalf of Vladimir Kuznetsov, Director of the UN Information Centre in Moscow.
“Our planet needs peace, which is the highest good for all mankind. The International Day of Peace, established by the UN General Assembly, is intended to remind us that the solutions are in our hands,” - the greeting noted. - This year's theme is a culture of peace, and it must be shaped to replace division and disenfranchisement with justice and equality for all people.”
Tatyana Dovgalenko, Executive Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, also sent an appeal to the round table participants. Professor Yulia Petrova, Deputy Secretary General of the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly, read out the text of the appeal, which read in particular:
“Today, in the era of geopolitical turbulence and global trust deficit, the means of cultural, scientific and public diplomacy are especially in demand. The expansion of humanitarian co-operation leads to the formation of a dense fabric of inter-human contacts and profile horizontal ties, contributing to a better understanding between peoples.”
Commitment to Peace
H.E. Walid Hamed Shiltag, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the League of Arab States in Moscow, noted that the word ‘peace’ takes on a special meaning in the difficult circumstances facing Eurasia and the Middle East region, where long-standing conflict brings destruction and suffering and casts a shadow over the entire region.
“In the face of tensions, the Arab League remains committed to the goals of promoting peace, dialogue and trust, an advocate of peaceful resolution of conflicts and contradictions,’ said Mr. Walid Hamed Shiltag. The Ambassador spoke in Russian, a language he studied at the RUDN, a ‘peace university’.
H.E. Boumediene Guennad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Russian Federation, noted that all should strive for peace and recalled that the first Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize had recently been awarded in Moscow. It was awarded to the African Union. Ambassador Guennad said he warmly welcomed the decision.
“I believe that one day we will come together and see peace, but now we see what is happening around us: for many years we have not been able to achieve real peace,” – H.E. Khalid Abdullah Krayyem Shawabkah, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Russian Federation, said in his statement.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, Director General of TRENS Research Centre, sent a video greeting to the participants of the roundtable. He stressed the role of research and academic organizations in promoting the values of peace and harmony. He noted that the development of a culture of peace, which is the theme of this year's International Day of Peace, is possible with collective responsibility and collective efforts.
Banu Nurgazieva, President of the Civic Alliance of Kazakhstan, also focused on the culture of peace in her speech:
“Peace is an active process that requires participation and dialogue. We hear calls for this dialogue today, and it is wonderful because the main goal of public diplomacy is to build trust and mutual understanding.”
She also noted that Kazakhstan actively develops public diplomacy and promotes ideas of nuclear non-proliferation.
Kabuljon Sabirov, Director of the SCO Centre for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan, recalled the proverb: “Peace is strong not with tools but with people of good will” and stressed that it is such people who are engaged in public diplomacy. He also drew attention to the significance of the International Day of Peace:
“The Day of Peace is a platform for concrete actions to strengthen peace in the world. The activities on this day are aimed at spreading the ideas of non-violence and peaceful coexistence, and include a wide range of initiatives, from educational campaigns to art exhibitions.”
The event was supported by the International Association of Public Diplomacy Experts. At the end of the round table, a co-operation agreement was signed between the Association and the Eurasian and African Peoples’ Assembly. Artur Khachatryan, President of the Association of Public Diplomacy Experts, noted that the agreement will contribute to the strengthening of peace through the tools of public diplomacy.
