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UN chief calls on religious leaders, educators to teach tolerance, mutual respect

Xinhua, April 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

As violence continues to roil in Syria and Yemen, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged religious leaders and educators to preach to their followers the "correct meaning of tolerance; the correct meaning of culture and tradition, with mutual respect."

Speaking with reporters outside Security Council chambers at UN Headquarters in New York, Ban was asked why he didn't call for a " very-focused military-type" response to protect threatened civilians as was employed to rescue the Yizidi religious minority group trapped on an Iraq mountain.

"I believe that while we take all possible means to defeat terrorism, extremism, there is clearly a role for religious leaders and educators of the world to teach their followers, to teach their young people, the correct meaning of tolerance, the correct meaning of culture and tradition, with mutual respect," Ban replied. "This is what I am expecting."

Before that, he had appealed to leaders of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or IS and Daesh) and regional leaders to be in a dialogue since he saw only a political solution to the crises in the Middle East.

"I am not here to discuss about military strategy; whether it is surgical or whatever it may be," he said. "Sometimes they maybe necessary, when it is absolutely necessary. That's why I have been asking the countries, whoever has the capacity and means, influence, to defeat this ISIS, Daesh extremism, terrorism."

"At the same time we should look at addressing the issue at the roots and establish an inclusive society and engage in dialogue with the people," the secretary-general said. "That is the way all the issues should be addressed."

According to Ban, he and the President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa were in close cooperation with the Alliance for Civilizations and a high-level thematic debate will be organized from Sept. 21-22, with attendance of world leaders and religious leaders.

The debate is planned to precede the annual General Debate of the UN General Assembly when world leaders will gather annually. Endite