Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Turkey is hosting the Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Istanbul which got underway yesterday.

The UN Alliance is perceived as the most important international initiative to help advancing intercultural understanding.

It convenes a powerful network of global leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, the media, civil society and youth groups, to forge partnerships aimed at building substantive interaction between diverse communities and strengthening trust and reconciliation across cultures.

US President Barack Obama who held remarkable contacts in the Turkish capital Ankara yesterday is in Istanbul today to attend the Forum.

Newly appointed Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni are among those attending the forum.

Yesterday, opening speeches were delivered by the Co-chairman of the Alliance, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations – former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio.

In his speech, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "Alliance of Civilizations" initiative came in response to those who argued that the clash among civilizations was inevitable.

"We sincerely believe that the Christian, Muslim and Jewish peoples, the East and the West, can understand and tolerate each other. We believe that prejudices in a globalized world can cause danger but nothing else" Mr Erdogan said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who also spoke at the inauguration ceremony of the forum, said the efforts arising within the scope of the Alliance are beyond the prevention of problems; they are aimed at developing solutions.

He also stated that bringing differences together will secure peace, strengthen economy and provide a stable milieu for investors.

[EPSILON]

Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Istanbul

This sounds to me like Albanian tourist 15 years ago....

[Z4]

Isn't this the Cyprus Forum?