On behalf of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN, first I would like to congratulate all of you, and all of us, on the launch today of the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace.

It’s quite impressive to see representatives from some 50 governments, five UN entities and civil society. Looking back to the first planning meeting last April, where five governments, two UN organizations and we, the members of the Committee of Religious NGOs, were present and sitting at a much smaller table than these today, I feel that we have made important strides within one year.

Our inaugural conference last June, “The Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace,” drew large participation. Alongside the pressing nature of the subject matter, I think what was historic and promising about the conference was that it was planned, organized and held by governments, the UN and civil society working together in a spirit of equality and mutual respect.

The outcome of the conference was the crystallization of such collaboration. As the conference drew to a close, a group of government officials, UN staff and NGO representatives all gathered around a single laptop computer to finalize the conference report. This, for me, was an inspiration, and that huddle – as much as the report itself – showed how much we had achieved.

The report was then submitted to the President of the General Assembly and its spirit infused the outcome document that 170 world leaders adopted at the World Summit in September. Indeed, there is reason to believe that the reference to respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity in the outcome document is a direct result of our conference report.

In a world plagued by regional and internal conflicts, where threats to human dignity loom large, there is a growing need for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. In this sense, I think we are all aware of the important potential role that can be played by the Tripartite Forum in exploring creating avenues to a better future.

The terms of reference for the forum have now been adopted, and it is time for our next set of discussions to begin in earnest. I have no doubt that our shared values and mutual respect will set the tone of these discussions. And I am sure that, as the work of our new tripartite body evolves, so too will our shared sense of ownership of it, and responsibility for it.

I look forward to this partnership – which is as unique as it is strong – serving as a model for future collaborative ventures by all of those who are committed to the noble aims set out in the UN Charter.

In the end, it is through person-to-person interaction, dialogue and collaboration that we most effectively deepen our appreciation of others. This in turn can inspire new processes of reflection and transformation, opening new vistas of hope both for ourselves and for others. Our capacity to positively inspire each other is, I firmly believe, unlimited. Nor are there any limits on what inspired people, working together, can do. I look forward to working with all of you as we forge this new partnership for peace.