OSCE work to fight intolerance important, says Arab League Secretary General

VIENNA, 17 April 2008 - The OSCE and the League of Arab States face common challenges and strive toward common goals, particularly in the fight against intolerance and discrimination, the League's Secretary General, Amre Moussa, told the OSCE Permanent Council today.

"We have so many challenges that are similar - problems that preoccupy both organizations and also fields of co-operation that would serve the purpose of peace, stability and respect for the international order, international law and human rights," he said.

Moussa welcomed the OSCE's work to fight intolerance.

"I wish to seize the opportunity to praise the work of this Organization in the field of disseminating tolerance and combating discrimination," he said. "We agree with your view that the time has come to have serious work to deal with a major challenge that, if left unattended, would result in a serious deterioration in international relations."

He welcomed the efforts to promote understanding, including those of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, created at the initiative of Spain - which held the 2007 OSCE Chairmanship - and Turkey.

However, he added that such measures were not reaching "the simple men and women around the world" and instead "remained within a narrow circle of high officials and academics."

The OSCE's 56 participating States meet weekly at the Permanent Council in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions.