Embassies, diplomatic missions join Tolerance Festival
- Last updated: November 11, 2019 | 15:05
The National Festival for Tolerance and Human Fraternity, which is being organised at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi under the theme “On Zayed’s Approach”, until Nov.16, is continuing to see a large participation by federal and local institutions, along with the UN Office, embassies and diplomatic missions of Arab and foreign countries in the UAE.
Champions of Tolerance during the event.
Within an atmosphere of dazzling festivities, including artistic, folkloric and heritage shows performed by ensembles from various countries, visitors felt like they were in a small village combing all cultures of the world reflecting principles and values of tolerance and coexistence.
The UN Office
Dr Dina Assaf, the UN Resident Coordinator in the UAE, said, “The United Nations’ participation in the National Festival for Tolerance and Human Fraternity is part of its commitment to promoting tolerance by supporting the mutual understanding between cultures and peoples of the world.”
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She pointed out that the UN Office in the UAE in collaboration with the Ministry of Tolerance organised a joint march to celebrate the United Nations Day on Oct.24, the day on which the United Nations was established in 1945. The move came to highlight the lofty values of the Year of Tolerance, she added.
Assaf continued, “The concepts and principles of tolerance adopted by the UAE are the same principles that the United Nations has been advocating since its inception, therefore, we are delighted with this participation because it promotes understanding, dialogue, cooperation and friendship among the peoples of the world.”
Moreover, the UN platform at the Festival distributed educational and awareness materials on the principles of the United Nations and the concept of sustainability, she added.
“The children and young people who visit the platform are asked to describe either by drawing or writing their perceptions about future of the world,” she said.
The drawings and writings expressed their dreams of a world without wars, conflicts or restrictions, dominated by security, love and tolerance, Assaf added.
Embassies of various countries in the Festival
Ali Chaouch, Senior Secretary at the Tunisian Embassy, said, “The Tunisian Embassy is participating in the National Festival for Tolerance and Human Fraternity-2019 with the largest pavilion to introduce the audience to the Tunisian cultural heritage, in addition to many activities and indigenous artistic performances, which attracted large number of visitors at the Festival.”
This photo shows the pavilions of the festival.
The German Embassy, along with German educational, cultural and tourism institutions such as the Goethe-Institut, the German Tourism Office and the Office of Study Programmes in Germany, is actively participating in the Tolerance Festival.
Mona Osman-Goethe-Institut in Abu Dhabi, said, “The German participation in such a huge mass festival means contact with cultures and heritage of the world and exchange of ideas on the importance of tolerance and dialogue.”Speaking about the “digital murals” at the German pavilion, Osman said it is an initiative launched by the Berlin Mass Arts Laboratory that would produce meaningful messages on tolerance, dialogue, coexistence and openness to different cultures.
Armenian folklore in the Festival
The Festival is further witnessing a distinguished participation of the Armenian folklore ensemble, which came especially to Abu Dhabi to perform artistic and traditional dances in Armenian traditional costumes.
Mary Bakarinan, Assistant Ambassador of Armenia to the UAE, said the embassy was happy to participate in the Festival, which translates its belief in all approaches that the UAE adopts to promote peace, stability, tolerance and love among all peoples.
Nadim Syed from the Pakistani pavilion said that the Festival represented an opportunity to contribute to highlight the value of tolerance as a humanitarian principle protecting societies of all races from extremism and terrorism.
Champions of Tolerance
The activities of the “Champions of Tolerance” programme, organized by the Ministry of Tolerance as part of the National Festival for Tolerance and Human Fraternity, kicked off on Sunday at the Arab Youth Centre in Abu Dhabi. This was with the participation of more than 50 champions who graduated in the first edition.