UAE promotes moderate religious, media rhetoric to spread peace , says Tolerance Minister

ABU DHABI, 20th December, 2016 (WAM) -- The UAE takes a keen interest in promoting peace and harmony and presenting itself as a model of tolerance, co-existence, solidarity and fraternity, and a haven for inter-cultural interaction, while working to promote a moderate religious and media rhetoric, said Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, in a speech delivered at the third Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, in Abu Dhabi. This approach was established by the UAE’s founding fathers, namely the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and continues to be pursued to date by the country's leadership, she said. "UAE's relations with other countries that have different cultures and religions are based on these solid foundations including mutual respect." The leadership and people of the UAE have a strong belief in humanity and embrace these principles as terms of reference for their efforts in protecting the country's social fabric and societal peace, and more widely regional and global peace and stability, she said. This belief, she noted, is coupled with a sense of national responsibility within the framework of a common global responsibility towards achieving happiness and prosperity for all the peoples of the world. In the UAE, nationals of more than 200 countries live and work in harmony where the government continues to bolster dialogue and promote knowledge and inter-cultural dialogue and understanding, she further noted. "Since its establishment in 1971, The UAE has always been aware of global challenges posed by violence, hate and discrimination and has spared no efforts in fighting all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremism. Effective and fast-paced steps to eliminate attempts to damage peace and security include the promotion of a moderate religious rhetoric against fanaticism, sectarianism ideological extremism and incitement, while at the same time promoting values of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, love, co-operation and mutual respect among nationals of all countries as part of respect for human rights, international charters seeking to establish a culture of peace and harmony among all intellectual, religious and cultural segments of society," Minister Al Qasimi said. During the two-day annual forum held by Muslim Council of Elders, a large number of scholars and thinkers from around the world met for in-depth discussions about misunderstandings about religion with a focus on the concept of nation-state. – Emirates News Agency, WAM -http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395304881840.html