GOE TO HOST ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS

UNCLAS QUITO 002351 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UN IO EC SUBJECT: GOE TO HOST ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS ¶1. (U) Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion on September 12 announced that the GOE would host a meeting of the UN's Alliance of Civilizations in Quito September 24-25. Carrion stressed the importance of the initiative and said the meeting would help identify areas for increased communication between the West and the Arab world. He discussed the need to find "peaceful solutions" to the current global terrorist threat and said that the Alliance, through increased global dialogue, cultural exchange, and the eradication of social and economic inequalities, was trying to find these answers. ¶2. (U) Announced by the UN Secretary-General in 2005 and co-sponsored by Spain and Turkey, the initiative was developed to "bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace." The Alliance is expected to deliver to the Secretary-General a report with recommendations and a plan of action later this year. ¶3. (U) Post would appreciate any relevant guidance from the Department on the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, as well as USG participation (if any) in the September 24-25 meeting. JEWELL