New Delhi, July 11: The international ministerial conference on `Dialogue among Civilisations' concluded here today with the adoption of a resolution which accepted "tolerance as a fundamental value common to all civilisations". The Conference accepted Resolution 56/6 of the United Nations General Assembly, passed in November 2001, emphasising the importance of education, the exchange of knowledge and of cooperation among nations to foster tolerance and a respect for others regardless of belief, culture and language.

The U.N. resolution invited Governments to lay special emphasis to democratic principles and practices and also to pluralism. Education, it said, was necessary to develop communities rooted in the principles of democracy and human rights. It called on nations to take steps to establish educational institutions with a learning environment which would contribute to tolerance, respect and understanding about diversity and wealth of cultural identities.

In consonance with this it urged Governments to "take full and effective measures to ensure that educational institutions are protected from teachings that promote extremism, intolerance and violence". The resolution stated that in this century science must become a "shared asset" benefiting all peoples and serving as a resource for social and economic transformation.

Taking forward the spirit of the U.N. resolution the conference called on all Governments and civil society to support a dialogue "within and among civilisations and cultures" to make this an instrument of transformation, a yardstick for peace and tolerance and vehicle for diversity and pluralism.

It enjoined Governments to ensure the empowerment and full participation of women and youth to generate equitable and inclusive societies "where mutual understanding may flourish and people may learn to live together in peace". The conference recommended that UNESCO initiate a process of collaboration with member-states, other U.N. organisations, civil society, the scientific, academic and artistic communities and the private sector with a view to translating the various proposals into concrete action.