A fear of difference is the root of all conflict, Mr John Hume, told an international conference in Belfast. The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, also addressed delegates at yesterday's session of the State of the World Forum via a video-link.
"The state of the world depends today more than ever before on common approaches, common analysis and common solutions," said Mr Blair. The nations of the world are more interdependent now than ever before.
"Belfast is perhaps a particularly good place to have the forum. A place that has been torn apart by conflict and is now trying to search for the road to peace," he added.
The SDLP leader revealed the man behind the politician in a relaxed session with delegates, speaking of his working-class roots in Derry and his hopes for future peace in the North.
The music that has inspired Mr Hume interspersed the discussion as he spoke of his experiences in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and how he attempted to encourage self-help in the community, "using the talents of the people and pulling them together".
He said the past attitudes among people in Northern Ireland had to change if the walls of divide between the two communities were to come down. "If you look at conflict here and in other parts of the world it is always about the same thing - difference, and difference seen as a threat." It should be something to respect not fight about, he added.