REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Bali will host the Sixth Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which will take place at the Nusa Dua Convention Center, from August 29 to 30, 2014. The Global Forum aims at fostering cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, according to a statement posted on the UNAOC official website.
The Sixth UNAOCs Global Forum in Bali will be participated by 114 members of UNAOCs Group of Friends (GoF), including 11 state leaders who have been invited by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The 11 state leaders who have been invited are from Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Qatar, Austria, Myanmar, The Peoples Republic of China, India, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa.
The meeting will bring together political leaders, representatives from 25 international organizations, 100 members of international youth delegations, and the media. Carrying the theme "Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Diversity for Common and Shared Values", the Forum will focus on strategic and practical measures that generate and sustain common values and a shared sense of responsibility among all stakeholders, partners and constituencies toward the realization of the mandate and objectives of the Alliance.
The theme is based on Indonesia's national motto of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" or "Unity in Diversity". The motto reflects the outlook of Indonesia's Founding Fathers which embraces the wealth of Indonesia's cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity.
The UNAOC was first initiated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 14, 2005, and co-sponsored by former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Turkeys Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.