New York, 14 November 2025 – The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in New York hosted an event dedicated to the outcomes of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on 17–18 September 2025 in Astana, as well as to the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). The reception gathered a broad audience, including Permanent Representatives of UN Member States, senior UN Secretariat officials, media representatives, and members of civil society.
Opening the event, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Kairat Umarov, emphasized that the 20-year history of the Alliance of Civilizations stands as clear evidence of the enduring importance of mutual understanding, trust, and respect for cultural diversity in the modern world. He noted that Kazakhstan fully shares and advances these values, making interfaith and intercultural dialogue a priority of both its national and foreign policy.
Ambassador Umarov placed particular focus on the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which has been held in Astana every 3 years since 2003 and has evolved into a unique global platform for exchanging ideas and best practices in interfaith cooperation. He highlighted the significance of the Astana Peace Declaration 2025, adopted at the Congress and officially circulated within the UN as a General Assembly document (A/80/425). The Declaration reaffirms the principles of Unity in Diversity, supports the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, and underscores the central role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in strengthening the culture of peace.
The Kazakh diplomat also highlighted the Special Session on the Safeguarding of Religious Sites held during the Congress, co-chaired by Miguel Ángel Moratinos, UN Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the UNAOC and UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, and Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. He noted that this session was a logical continuation of the global dialogue launched at the 2024 conference in Cascais (Portugal) and was aimed at developing concrete mechanisms to ensure the protection of places of worship.
As the event’s guest of honor, M. Moratinos highly praised Kazakhstan’s role in promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue. He stressed that Kazakhstan has become a leading global center advancing the culture of peace, and that the Astana Congress stands as a vivid example of the country’s practical contribution to strengthening trust and cooperation among different faiths. The UN Under-Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of the Special Session, calling it an important step forward in global efforts to protect religious sites and counter extremism.
M. Moratinos noted that Kazakhstan serves as a powerful example of tolerance and interfaith harmony for the international community. Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical polarization, he underlined that “it is in Astana where representatives of Islam and Judaism sit at the same table.”
The High Representative also expressed deep gratitude to Kazakhstan for awarding him the Astana International Prize for Contribution to Interfaith Dialogue, emphasizing that this high honor, presented by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, represents not only recognition but also a symbol of trust in the long-standing work of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
In closing, participants noted that the event became an important step in strengthening the synergy between Kazakhstan’s initiatives and the work of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. They also discussed further avenues for cooperation and future joint efforts.
