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Alliance of Civilisations Symposium Photo Gallery (23-24 May 2007) 
Interfaith Dialogue Conference Photo Gallery (29-31 May 2007)
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Our support for the Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue and the United Nations-led Alliance of Civilisations are important elements of New Zealand’s security policy. Involvement in these initiatives is reinforced by contributions New Zealand makes to security in the region through the Asia Security Fund.
The Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue is co-sponsored by New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Dialogue brings together representatives of the major faith and community groups from 15 countries in the Southeast Asian and the South Pacific region. New Zealand hosted the third Dialogue in Waitangi, New Zealand in May 2007.
The aim of the Dialogue is to promote cooperation through effective communication amongst religious communities and to build understanding, tolerance and respect for each other’s beliefs. Its basic principle is that no religion should be used as a basis or justification for intolerance, fanaticism and terrorist activity.
New Zealand supports the Alliance of Civilisations (AOC) initiative launched by the United Nations in 2005 and the subsequent AOC Report. New Zealand sees the AOC initiative as a key element of building a peaceful and secure Asia-Pacific region.
In May 2007, New Zealand convened a Symposium on The AOC in Auckland. The Symposium focused regional attention on the AOC Report’s recommendations, particularly in the four “fields of action” (education, youth, media and migration), and identified possibilities for follow-up action by countries in our region.
New Zealand has provided NZD$105,000 to the AOC Trust Fund, tagged for projects in South and Southeast Asia.
To further implement Alliance of Civilisations recommendations, New Zealand has developed an initial Alliance of Civilisations National Implementation Plan, which contains a programme of activities for 2008 and 2009. The domestic aspects of this Plan are led by the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.
New Zealand uses the Asia Security Fund
(NZD$1 million annually) to support counter-terrorism capacity-building and regional security initiatives in South East Asia, including through addressing broader factors which may lead to violent extremism and terrorism. This approach recognises that effective counter-terrorism strategies focus on both symptoms and underlying factors that lead to terrorism. It also recognises the requirement for a long-term investment in cooperation with South East Asian partners.
The Fund supports a range of initiatives within or focussed on the region, including building capacity and increasing coordination across law enforcement agencies, strengthening and encouraging implementation of legal frameworks, and interfaith and inter-cultural initiatives aimed at building trust and cooperation across communities in the region.
The Fund is managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
