On the sidelines of the 10th session of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Forum held in Cascais, Portugal, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Media and Communication Sector, met on 27 November with Mr. Nuno Sampaio, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Khattabi highlighted the depth of the historical ties between the Arab world and Portugal, emphasising the mutual aspiration to enhance economic, commercial, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. He underscored the shared commitment to advancing the objectives of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations, as outlined in the "Fez Action Plan" and the "Cascais Declaration," while upholding respect for diversity and national cultural specificities.
The Ambassador noted that the strong participation of Arab, Islamic, and African nations in this session is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the values of peace and dialogue, their rejection of hatred and extremism, and their active engagement in constructive initiatives aimed at promoting internationally recognised humanitarian and human rights principles and fostering a culture of peace and dialogue.
He also stressed the urgent need to uphold international humanitarian law, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and its devastating impact on public and private infrastructure.
For his part, the Portuguese Minister of State expressed deep concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted the historical ties and geographical proximity between Portugal and the Arab world, stressing the importance of further cooperation and political consultations between Portugal and the League of Arab States
