News Desk
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Abdulla Shahid, the Maldivian diplomat who presided over the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021-2022, joined world leaders and diplomats on Sunday as a special guest at the opening of the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Shahid, now president of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and a former foreign minister, used the occasion to stress the urgency of intercultural dialogue in a world he described as increasingly fractured. “In today’s world, understanding between civilisations is more crucial than ever for humanity’s survival,” he wrote in a post on X after the inauguration. “We must not let hatred, fear, and mistrust prevail. It is our diversity that enriches humanity, and dialogue can bridge even the deepest divides.”
His remarks echoed the forum’s theme, “Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity — Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World.” The gathering, hosted by Saudi Arabia, marks the 20th anniversary of the alliance, which was launched in 2005 by Spain and Turkey to counter cultural and religious divisions in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
During his tenure as Assembly president — often referred to as PGA76 —Shahid championed “Hope Through Solidarity and Recovery,” pressing for vaccine equity, climate action and multilateral cooperation. He was the first Maldivian and only the fourth Asian in nearly half a century to hold the post.
On the sidelines of the Riyadh forum, Shahid met with Yemen’s foreign minister, Shaya Mohsin Zindani, to discuss regional developments and the alliance’s potential role in reconciliation efforts. He also held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League, and Amr Moussa, the former Arab League chief, reflecting the forum’s emphasis on interfaith and regional dialogue.
The two-day event drew participants from more than 100 countries, including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who addressed the opening virtually, and Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the alliance’s high representative. Sessions focused on intolerance, hate speech, migration, women’s roles in peacebuilding and the risks of AI-driven disinformation.
Shahid’s presence underscored the effort to include voices from small island nations and former U.N. leaders who have navigated the institution’s complexities. For the Maldives, a country facing existential threats from climate change, his call for dialogue as a tool for survival carried weight.
