“This year and last, we have seen a whole series of horrifying attacks, motivated by hatred, a vehement rejection of difference and an irrational fanaticism leading the perpetrators to strike at anything exemplifying the diversity of cultures”, said the Secretary General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, addressing the World Forum for Democracy.

“We are not faced with a clash or war of civilisations, but rather a fight between two opposing visions of society on a worldwide scale.  One is based on destruction, regression, obscurantism and hatred.  The other founded on construction, progress, the Enlightenment, a spirit of fraternity and humanity.  It is this vision which we must resolutely promote day after day to fulfil this dream of a fairer, more prosperous and more peaceful world, in the certain knowledge that this vision is shared by billions of people throughout the world, whatever their culture and religion or the civilisation that has nurtured them.”, she added.

“In order to fight all forms of extremism and excesses, to take action against injustice, exclusion and the divisions that are becoming ever wider not without harmful consequences, in order to prevent disenchantment particularly among young people, to establish or re-establish the confidence that is so necessary for stability and to counter the erosion of our values, we have to tackle both the root causes and the consequences.

The delicate balance that can sustain freedom and security on an equal level requires us to devise mechanisms that will ensure that the general interest will always take precedence over individual interests, whatever they may be, that the rights of everyone will always be upheld, and that the rule of law and justice will always weigh heavy in the balance.”

“In this respect, the Council of Europe and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie share the same values and the same objectives”, she said.