Details added (first version posted on 11:22)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.26
Trend:
Division and exclusion only play into the hands of the extremists, but what they really want to destroy is our common ground, said the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his video message to the participants of the 7th UNAOC Global Forum in Baku.
"I appreciate the hospitality of President Ilham Aliyev, government of Azerbaijan and the city of Baku," he said. "I applaud the team of this forum."
"We live at a time of great crises. Record numbers of people have forced to flee their homes. Many escaped violence, extremism and prosecution," Ban Ki-moon added.
"We are walking around the world to resolve disputes, conflicts and consolidate peace," said the UN secretary general. "We are focusing on prevention by tackling the root causes of conflicts."
Further, Ban Ki-moon noted that the General Assembly has welcomed the UN plan of action to prevent violence and extremism.
This phenomenon is not rooted in any single religion, vision or nationality, he said, adding that stereotyping is dangerous and destabilizing.