Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati met with Miguel Angel Moratinos, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia, on September 25, 2026. The meeting took place during the high-level segment of the 81st UN General Assembly. Abdellati expressed appreciation for the role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations and its initiatives to combat hate speech and promote inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue.
Abdellati emphasized the importance of consolidating a culture of dialogue and tolerance while preserving cultural identity and specificity. He welcomed the UN General Assembly's declaration of 2027-2036 as the International Decade for Culture for Sustainable Development. This highlights the pivotal role of culture and inter-civilizational dialogue in supporting peace and development efforts.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister pointed to the significance of enhancing cooperation between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. This is particularly relevant as 2027 marks the 25th anniversary of the library's reopening. Abdellati invited Moratinos to visit Egypt soon to launch activities and events under the memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
Moratinos' visit and the meeting with Abdellati reflect the ongoing collaboration between Egypt and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. The Alliance aims to promote understanding and respect among different cultures and communities. Egypt has been actively engaged with the Alliance, recognizing its role in fostering global dialogue and cooperation.
The meeting also touched on current global challenges and the need for collective action to address them. Abdellati and Moratinos likely discussed ways to strengthen international partnerships to tackle pressing issues such as hate speech, intolerance, and cultural destruction. Their conversation may have also covered Egypt's priorities during its participation in the UN General Assembly.
Egypt has consistently supported the UN Alliance of Civilizations and its mission to promote peace and understanding. By engaging with Moratinos, Abdellati reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation among nations. The two officials may have explored new areas of collaboration to further this goal.
The discussions between Abdellati and Moratinos come at a critical time, with global tensions and challenges on the rise. Their meeting underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts and international cooperation in addressing these issues. Egypt and the UN Alliance of Civilizations are working together to promote a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.
Key points
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati met with UN High Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos to discuss cooperation on promoting dialogue and combating hate speech.
- The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, highlighting Egypt's engagement with the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
- Abdellati and Moratinos likely discussed ways to strengthen international partnerships to address global challenges.
