High-level Thematic debate on promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation was held in UN Head-quarter in New York

The Debate was organized by the UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, President of the General Assembly Mr. Sam K.Kutesa, High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Mr. N.Abdulaziz Al-Nasser.

High-level plenary sessions and interactive discussions were arranged in the course of the two-day debate. Wide range of issues as states' policy in fostering peace, freedom of expression, human rights as well as countering violent extremism and xenophobia were discussed.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Yerzhan Ashykbayev took part in the first day of high-level debate. In his address he emphasized the importance for Kazakhstan of principles of cultural diversity, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding between representatives of different ethnicities and religious denominations. As an example of successful national policy in Kazakhstan he noted the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, which celebrates its Twentieth Anniversary in 2015.

In the context of international cooperation of our country Yerzhan Ashykbayev informed participants of the debate on Kazakhstan's initiative on convening the Congress of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions, the fifth session of which will be held in Astana in June 2015. The Forum will be devoted to the dialogue of political and religious leaders for peace and development.

A wife number of national governments' representatives, religious leaders from the UN member states participated in the High-Level debates.