UN Secretary General's Message On International Day For Tolerance

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has issued a message on the occasion of International Tolerance Day. The UN Information Centre in Moscow reports that the message reads that after the terrifying September 11th attacks the world has become united as it has never been before. Millions of people, representatives of all societies and cultures have reaffirmed the comprehension of their belonging to one human family, the message reads. Tolerance, Annan says, is one of the values, which gives a peace-making opportunity. The UN Secretary General laid a particular stress on the fact that tolerance means equal possibilities for all people to receive economic and social benefits. Exclusion and isolation may only lead to hostilities and fanaticism and are apt to provoke a still greater intolerance, the message stresses. Thus, encouraging tolerance is an important element of the current fight against terrorism, Kofi Annan believes. The Secretary General repeatedly called for tolerance, dialogue and solidarity "in the relations with other nations and peoples of the world, and among us as well, in our families and in our communities." "In the face of an increasing intolerance, risks born by indifference are too great," Kofi Annan stressed in his message.