These past two days have made it clear that much remains to be done – this Forum is a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to come together, to exchange views and experiences and to strategize together to ensure that all minorities enjoy all their rights. We trust that the recommendations will be a first step in ensuring the effective participation of minorities in economic life. Ladies and gentlemen, in my opening remarks I had quoted from the UN Secretary General’s speech in New York on Human Rights Day a few days ago. I wish to close also with another quote from the same speech: “…People were not put on this planet to live in fear of their fellow human beings. The watchwords of civilization have always been tolerance, understanding and mutual respect…” Let us go forward from here in that spirit. Thank you.

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