Transcripts For ALJAZAM Talk To Al Jazeera 20150211

Connect governments, organizations and individuals to promote peace. Much of his work is currently focused on combating terrorism. Many muslims have been victims by their own so here we are not talking about religion but lack of education, being marginalized on society, pushed to the back. They come with anger and hatred. He served at president of the United Nations General Assembly for a year in september of 2011. He speaks out about his tenure and how changes are needed president world body. I think United Nations Security Council, General Assembly all United States nations as a whole from the u. N. Charter should be reformed. I spoke with the high representative in new york. Your mission as the head of the u. N. s alliance for civilization in one description is to galvanize International Action against extremism through cooperation, diffusing tensions between the western and islamic worlds. I cant think of many more important jobs today. Well, this is a very challenging job, and especially in this time where we witness so many, the rise of i had red, religious intolerance around the world. I think the International Community should get together and address this issue. Its not the responsibility of region or sub region. One of your responsibilities, and i know one of the ways that you believe this needs to be attacked as a problem is through Sustainable Development. Youve written that we need to better understand the fundamental relationship between radicalization, extremism and violence where the absence of development can create the conditions for radicalization. Can that relationship be drawn between development and radicalization . Well, during the presidency of the 66th session of the General Assembly, we addressed this issue by promoting peaceful coexistence and sustainable allotment. It goes together, intellect together. We cannot separate this from each other. Sometime poverty marginalization leads to extremism and i think the United Nations responsibility today to address this issue, we know that there is a commitment through the Security Council last summer when theyre leaders met and agree on adopting the resolution 2178 to Counter Terrorism around the world, and this is a great move, but we want to see implementation. I think we should collection our efforts. Lets talk about some of what you just said. You said sometimes marginalization leads to extremism. More often than not, it does not. You have countries in terrible poverty around the world where extremism doesnt exist, so why do you think what is the toxic mix here that creates extremism, aside from marginalization and poverty . If we look at middle east dictatorship, corruption, a lack of education lack of opportunities that so many young people to take that road, and we see today, we cannot only accuse those young people from middle east. We see many young people coming also from europe. Well thats the thing, youre seeing radicalization happen in countries where there is development, where there are jobs, where there are opportunities. So, you know, some would argue that the issue, you bring it up, that it is with some of the religious institutions that are failing these young people, but, you know, the argument, others should say that the problem is that they are aggressively recruiting young people, especially marginalized young people. How do we stop that . You see, when i mentioned marginalization and lack of opportunities, dont forget, the governments in the west have responsibility when it comes to integration and of those young people feel equal citizen. On the other hander, i think lack of education might lead to this made easy target by terrorist group, some young people also, they want to look for their identity. They want someone to listen to their vases, so this is part of what we witness today. You, yourself have not been shy about saying that part of the problem is a perversion of islam. You said lange term suction means providing long term alternatives to perversion of religion. What are those meaningful alternatives . We see today, we see many accusation against islam, but in reality, what we see around the world today, religious intolerance is not only against islam. Its against other religions. Thats why we should, when the United Nations through Security Council or allies of civilization, of any organization responsible to promote tolerance, to promote dialogue, to promote respect, we seals on the other hand media, you know. People said freedom of expression, this is, i said i dont have problem, that should be respected but also should be responsible. Media should be responsible to address issues very sensitive issues like what we witnessed in the last few weeks. I mean, when we see isis today is it terrorist group, is it a state . So the International Community, they have we should look and address and find out the root causes of whats happening today in the middle east and elsewhere. To attack the problem, then what should the role of muslim countries specifically be . Well, they are also, theyve been victims, many muslims have been victims by their own, so here we are not talking about religion. We are talking about theres something those youth people they first, lack of education. If they have good education, then they will have great opportunities to have a very good life and good future, but lack of education, being marginalized on society, being pushed to the back, they come with anger, and hatred. They want to find themselves where they fit and how they others all the society can hear their voices. How do you address that problem . How does the u. N. , how does muslim countries, how do you even western countries, many extremist, muslim clerics are recruiting in europe. How is that problem addressed within islam . I think today the responsibility, i always say religious leaders anywhere, they have a big responsibility to address this issue and to promote tolerance, to promote respect, to promote that religion lead to peace, not to blood. I think this is very essential and i see today around the world so many initiatives coming from religious organization or institution to address this issue, but also we cannot only blame religious leader. Of course, government, they have responsibility, Civil Society, they have responsibility scholars and private sector, you know, private sector makes a lot of money, but sometime in return they have to support society. They have to support, they have to help to eradicate poverty around the world, so this is a very really challenging issue and i think need collective efforts by the International Community. In your role as the high representative for the alliance of civilizations, you have really pointed out that in the west, while we focus on the consequences of terrorism here and the threats it may pose to us, you have really called attention to the tremendous suffering it is causing around the world from africa to the middle east to the asian continent. How bad is the problem . Well, you see, of course today on the United Nations agenda today, maybe number one is terrorism. Im sure we need still a lot of cooperation, a lot of collective efforts and work between countries, between religious institution, between academia, Civil Society to Work Together and thats where the alliance we are other guising meetings not only in new york but around the world, where we see one of the issues that sometimes cause problem is migration. You see, migration. Which also comes under your purview. Yes, because when we see sometime those migrant people that cause problem, they left their home. Nobody wants to leave their country and home unless they are facing difficulties. They left because of conflicts. They left because of corruption, poverty, they left because of many other problems, looking for a better life. They go to their neighbor. Not all migration is a negative thing, because many migrant people left their homes and went to the u. S. , went to the west, went elsewhere and they contribute to their development. If you receive them, you respect them, you help them to be integrated in the society and educate them, they can be surplus, but the picture is always, we look the people they look at them like a threat or negative. They bring with them their problems. They become terrorists. Was, if you marginalize them you treat them like criminal not maybe this generation, but the next generation will carry this kind of hatred and fear and become, you know, they will not be, contribute to the society. How, then, do you break that vicious circle were seeing . Because if Sustainable Development, education, all these things are the way to break that circle, but then youve got these countries where extremists are holding sway in significant parts of the country. You see boko haram in nigeria where its name is against western education. Youve got the chaos that were seeing in syria and iraq and in other places around the world. How do you stop that vicious circle. Some crisis lead to really racism, terrorism, what we see today in syria and iraq, i think international, they are responsible. If we look at how Security Council react to prevent this conflict in syria from day one we will not see what we see today. There were no agreement in the Security Council in addressing the issue of syria, so that disagreement led to more violence and more violence produced more racism, extremism, led to violence in the region. Syria in the beginning, people started looking for their dignity and respect for human rights. That led to what we see today, a big, big problem, which not only affecting that sub region, but this will spread around the world. Here, the question comes with how can we address this issue . Unless the International Community agrees through Security Council and we stop this conflict, if we stop this conflict, then we can address other issue easily, but how can you try to address the extremists and terrorist groups while the conflict is going on . This needs a really big collective efforts and serious by International Community. Coming up, should the u. N. Be reformed . This week, the United Nations high representative for the alliance of civillations alnasser. Other than moon upon a, you are probably as important a representative to the United Nations as there is, because you have been working there for decades. The u. N. Has so many responsibilities. Whats the main priority now . Is it stopping conflict stopping terrorism, should it be that . Yes, of course, this is a very important issue, but you see, let me go back a little bit about when people talk about the United Nations. They always say oh, its a giant monster. A huge bureaucracy that does nothing and spends a lot of money. This organization a member state driven organization. Where there is no consensus, United Nation cannot do anything. When there is consensus, you see a great result. Im not here to try to defend the United Nations which ive been working, representing my country and leading very important, this today is the most Important Organization to maintain peace and security in the world, but we need collective efforts. We need to create consensus. Thats why Security Council in syria situation couldnt do anything, because thats the problem is we dont seem to be able to ever reach con sense. You look at, you know, you bring up the Security Council in syria, but can also talk about Security Council in ukraine and even a condemnation of some of the violence ended up being vetoed by russia. Five permanent members can veto things against their interests. If you cant even get those five to agree, how do you get a broader consensus at the u. N. To achieve the goals it needs to achieve . I think the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly, all United Nations as a whole through the u. N. Charter should be reformed. Seventy years ago, the world was different from today. Almost a 5060 member state at that time, today 193. We look at the world today, its different from that time. Today, the world turning to abglobal village. The more we come close to each other, the more were going to face challenges. How should the Security Council be reformed . Do you think the five world powers should continue to have the sway they have as permanent members of the council . I should say you spent a month as president of the Security Council, so should the u. S. , russia, china, france, england not have veto power anymore . I cannot decide for them to have or not to have. Thats with the United Nations Member States agree on one solution. And then reform, not reform, how we want to United Nations organization to be effective active and effective, or just giant monster with big bureaucracy. I think we have many challenges. Its not political. Its not war, its not terrorism. We see today, even diseases. Bipolar, the world went crazy for one disease. What about tomorrow . What about the future . I think we should deal with all challenges. How do you achieve that consensus . How do you find that, you know especially the big powers, but you know, even the smaller countries where the interests are so disparate that its hard to bring them together . As i said, many priorities in the United Nations today, you know, even to have peace and security at the end of the day, we have there is as big commitment by leaders around the world in the area of Sustainable Development if we implement what we agreed upon 15 years ago, we would see different world. Yes, there is some success, some commitment, but at this year the goals will come to an end and then we move to s. T. G. s, to anti plus 15. We are working now, all u. N. Working on a new agenda. How optimistic are you that the u. N. Can work and be effective in that way and reach those goals . First, i cannot imagine the World Without United Nation, you know, so i am very optimistic but we need commitment, because all of us, if we dont Work Together to address these challenges and we all lose. Still ahead, the high representative on entering the world of diplomacy when he was just 18 years old. 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The new Al Jazeera America mobile app available for your apple and android mobile device. Download it now my guest is alnasser. Not only you were president of the Security Council for a month, you were the head of the General Assembly for a year, and that sort of were crowning achievements of diplomacy began when he were in a years old. You must have a very deeprooted love of diplomacy and belief in what it can do. I thank god that i end up like the way i am today. When i was young, i was dreaming to be in the military, and i was asking my father, i want to join this college. My father kept quiet, so when i was ready, i finished the secondary school, he said to me now, what exactly you want. Dont so me. Its youre future. He said now, you have a chance to go to work and to study and work on the Ministry Foreign affair or to be member of the army and the choice is yours. Dont ask me for an advice. Its your future. If you did very well, i hope you will thank me. If you fail, please dont, and he gave me 24 hours to choose. I couldnt sleep that night. Next day, i woke up, i said i think im going to take the foreign to be working in. It wasnt easy. I was young, and, but i was full of ambitions. I worked hard, but also, i was lucky. Luck sometimes is very important. I worked very hard and i end up working different areas, but my most love for my work when i join United Nations. The multilateral core me, its more important than bilateral. Bilateral i did, and i succeed, but the challenge and the sky is the limit. It is very good to have you with us. We wish you the best of luck in your efforts, because certainly they could not be more important. Thank you very much. Most of the major structures of new york have been touched by them