FORGE A NEW WAY OF RELATING TO EACH OTHER, SAYS BAN KI-MOON

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- People around the world need to forge a
new way of relating to each other as individuals, countries and societies, said
United Nation (UN) secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.

He said despite being faced with pandemics, economic turmoil and climate
change, people were still responding to each other with fear, suspicion or even
hatred.

"We must break this ancient habits," he said in a video message at the
opening of the five-day Global Model United Nations 2010 (GMUN) conference here
Monday.

The conference which ends Wednesday was launched by Youth and Sports
Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Ban said a better world of justice and human rights for all would emerge if
the culture of tolerance and understanding were built together.

"A world where there is no room for extremism, a world where girls can grow
up free of abuse, where womae are treated with respect and dignity, that is
their right. A world where poverty is not acceptable.

"You can make this your world by participating in GMUN, you are showing the
way and by simulating a general assembly summit you are getting a real taste of
diplomacy and international negotiation," he said.

He also urged the participants of the five-day conference to use their
voices for the common good for true alliance of civilisation.

"Just two days ago we launched the International Year of Youth, it is often
said that young people are the leaders of tomorrow, but you are already leaders.

"Your ideas, actions, decisions make a difference and more than any other
generation before, you have a voice," he said.

The conference themed "Towards an Alliance of Civilisation: Bridging
Cultures to Achieve Peace and Development" organised by the UN Department of
Public Information is being participated by 360 university students from 58 UN
member countries, including 62 from Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA