The Obama administration said Thursday it has decided to join the UN Alliance of Civilizations aimed at fostering greater cross-cultural understanding but shunned by the previous Bush administration. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters that the United States will, for the first time, attend an alliance gathering when Brazil hosts the next forum in Rio de Janeiro on May 28-29.
"The United States has decided to join the Alliance of Civilizations," Crowley said.
"We recognize the value of the Alliance of Civilizations as an important initiative seeking to improve understanding between cultures and peoples," Crowley said.
The United States is the 119th country or international organization to join the group, he said.
The Alliance is a 2005 initiative by former UN chief Kofi Annan and the prime ministers of Spain and Turkey aimed at bringing together institutions and civil society to bridge prejudices and misunderstandings between peoples of different cultures and religions.
