The Royal Councilor, André Azoulay, received Friday in Tangier, the prestigious “Award for lifetime service to Dialogue of cultures”, in recognition of his commitment and his efforts in favor of intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue.
This prize, awarded by the Aladdin project during the opening ceremony of the international conference “Dialogue of Tangier”, is a mark of recognition of Azoulay’s valuable contribution to the rapprochement of cultures and the promotion of the values of coexistence, tolerance and living together.
“My country is recognized today through this distinction given to me. This award is given to my country and my King,” said the recipient, who expressed his pride in this distinction.
While emphasizing the importance of this meeting, which is intended as an opportunity to discuss several topical issues related to interreligious coexistence and intercultural dialogue, and to examine the means of building peace through culture, Azoulay forward the choice of Morocco to host this event.
“You are gathered here today in Tangier, given that Morocco has been able to find the way and reach this consensus, which is that of a nation and a society, in the land of Islam in the Arab world, which says the modernity,” he said.
And to add: “Know that every year tens of thousands of Muslims from Morocco and elsewhere and tens of thousands of Jews from Morocco and elsewhere gather in Essaouira for the happiness of being together”, because “Morocco has this capacity both to listen and to respect the truth for all”. “We are emerging from this exercise of shared truth and dignity respected for all, more confident and committed than ever to making this Moroccan compass a landmark”.
The Tangier Dialogue, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, in partnership with the Aladdin Project and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), aims to discuss mainly the ways to build peace through culture, the importance of economic factors in the dynamics of relations between the West and the Islamic world, and issues related to new technologies and climate change in Africa and the Middle East, as well as short- and medium-term prospects in the Middle East and North Africa.
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