With his academic background and immense erudition, he succeeded in painting, on a wide canvass, the new directions of Turkey s policies under the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leadership.

His non KGB, non military background suggests that his conception of the rule of law may not be entirely shaped by a cynical love of power.

The donor's race or ethnic background is sometimes important since certain blood types, especially rare ones, are more common in certain ethnic groups.

The flag of Los Altos was a modification of that of the Central American Union, with a central seal showing a volcano in the background with a quetzal (a local bird symbolizing liberty) in front.

Yet, on the other hand, his flashy style is considered vulgar by traditional French elites, who are keen to dissociate themselves from someone whose educational background and instinctive reactions clearly marks him as not one of them.

There is hope, however slight, that, unlike Putin, Medvedev may mean what he says. His non KGB, non military background suggests that his conception of the rule of law may not be entirely shaped by a cynical love of power.

North Korean propaganda is not always a reliable indicator, but the recent upswing in attacks on the US, including a bizarre video to the tune of We are the World should not be completely laughed off.

It may be, as some Japanese colleagues tell me, that newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, despite his deeply conservative nationalist background and instincts, is ultimately a realist who will do what it takes no doubt with the help of pressure from the United States to defuse these tensions.

Thus, we all have the obligation to accept others and not reject them because of religious belief, lifestyle or cultural background. Religion should not be used as a pretext to marginalize or exclude others. We need to ensure that a culture of tolerance prevails, because hot spots of tension can emerge where extremism exists.