The Istanbul Forum

[ChristineMarie]

The Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations

On 6-7 April 2009, the second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum promises to be the world’s premier event aimed at advancing intercultural understanding.




http://www.unaoc.org/

[ChristineMarie]

[ChristineMarie]

6-7 April 2009
Several Major Innovative Projects to be Announced

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, President of the Government of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and President Jorge Sampaio, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations are among the public figures who will convene in Istanbul to help bridge the growing divide between nations and cultures worldwide, and to establish new partnerships that further global intercultural dialogue.

Hosted by the Government of Turkey, the Alliance of Civilizations’ Istanbul Forum will bring together a powerful network of global leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth to forge partnerships aimed at building substantive interaction between diverse communities and strengthening trust and reconciliation across cultures.

The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid, Spain, in January 2008. Like Madrid, the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes. A number of high-profile initiatives will be unveiled, including:

•A highly innovative multi-stakeholder led project that lies at the unique intersection of youth, media, and city diplomacy, called Café Salam

•A cluster of Euro-Mediterranean projects aimed at restoring trust and rebuilding bridges in this region

•An Alliance Fellowship Program to facilitate meaningful exchanges of young leaders across North and South as well as East and West will be revealed by the Alliance’s network of philanthropic foundations and private funders

•A new set of partnerships with the International Labour Office, the Ibero-American Community, the Commonwealth, l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the Communidades de Países de Língua Portuguesa – CPLP (Community of Portuguese speaking countries) will be signed with announcements of future joint initiatives


•A compilation of reflections by the High Representative on his two-year experience at the helm of the Alliance as well on his outlook for the future.

Further, major expansions in three ongoing projects of the Alliance will be made public:

•The AoC Rapid Response Media Mechanism, an online resource featuring experts on intercultural issues whom the media can turn to in times of international crises.

•The Alliance of Civilizations Clearinghouse, an online educational tool on multiple issues aimed at improving cross-cultural understanding; two new clearinghouses – on education about diverse religions and beliefs and on global initiatives to mobilize young people toward advancing intercultural understanding – will be launched.

•The results of the AoC Youth Solidarity Fund will be showcased: innovative youth-led projects aimed at building bridges across diverse cultures.

The Forum will feature:

•A range of project-specific working sessions that will convene policy-makers, international organizations and civil society to share lessons on best practices and develop joint work platforms.
•A unique Marketplace of Ideas to showcase the most innovative and successful grassroots projects aimed at transcending cultural divides and building peace.

Note to Editors
Information about the Alliance of Civilizations Forum is available at www.unaoc.org.

Documents that can be found on the website include:

•Basic information on logistics, Forum venue and services
•Contacts to arrange interviews with participants
•Background information about the Alliance
•Recent updates

[ChristineMarie]

President of Azerbaijan invited to second UN forum "Alliance of civilizations"


President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is invited to participate in the second UN forum "Alliance of civilizations" to be held in Istanbul on April 6-7 of 2009, according to sources from the steering committee of the forum, Novosti-Azerbaijan reports.

The opening ceremony will be attended by UN secretary general Pan Gi Mun, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Spain Jose Luis Rodriges Sapatero, senior representative of the Alliance of civilizations Gorge Sampayo, heads of states and governments of different world countries, leaders of international organizations, corporations, representatives of civil society and youth groups as well as experts.

http://www.today.az/news/society/50792.html

[ChristineMarie]

Global Leaders to Convene in Istanbul at Premier Forum

Hosted by the Government of Turkey, the Alliance of Civilizations’ Istanbul Forum will bring together a powerful network of global leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth to forge partnerships aimed at building substantive interaction between diverse communities and strengthening trust and reconciliation across cultures.

The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid, Spain, in January 2008. Like Madrid, the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes.

http://www.un.org.sy/forms/news/view...hp?idField=182

[ChristineMarie]

AoC meet PoC


The Parliament of Cultures is an international non-governmental organization (NGO), registered under Turkish law and based in Ankara, Turkey. Its main objective is to create understanding among the cultures of the world and to enhance dialogue among thinkers and intellectuals. The PoC strives to contribute towards the resolution of international and intercultural conflicts by means of peaceful dialogue.


http://radyobilkent.com/index.php



STATUTE

Article I: Establishment
Noting decree no. 2002/4366 dated 10 June 2002 of the Turkish Council of Ministers approving cooperation between the Luxemburg-based The Club of Rome and the Ankara-based Ihsan Dogramaci Foundation, and noting Article 3 of the Statute of the International Cultures Foundation, a “Parliament of Cultures” (PoC) has been established as a not-for-profit non-governmental organization.

The headquarters of the PoC shall be in Ankara , Turkey .

Article II: The Objectives
The objectives of the Parliament of Cultures are to promote understanding among cultures of the world and to enhance dialogue among their thinkers and intellectuals. The PoC strives to contribute towards the resolution of international and intercultural conflicts by means of peaceful dialogue.


Article III: Bodies and Definitions
Bodies of the PoC
• The Assembly
• The Standing Committee
• The Membership Committee
• The Executive Committee


Definitions
The Parliament of Cultures (PoC) is the name of this non-governmental organization.

The Assembly is the body composed of individuals and of member delegates from non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations to the PoC.

The President, who is elected by the Assembly, presides at the Assembly meetings.

The Standing Committee is the principal committee of the PoC. It is set up by the Assembly to perform the tasks outlined in this Statute.

The Membership Committee is the body authorized to process membership applications to the PoC, and to propose candidates for membership.

The Executive Committee is the body set up, in accordance with the provisions of this Statute, to carry out day-to-day work of the PoC.

The Secretary General is the chief executive officer of the PoC.

The Secretariat is the body in charge of office administration and record-keeping.


Article IV: The Assembly
• As the highest body of the PoC, the Assembly approves the rules and regulations proposed by the Standing Committee or the Executive Committee regarding the activities of the PoC.

• The Assembly is composed of :

• the founders of the International Cultures Foundation

• individuals, serving in a personal capacity

• international non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations who are recognized as having made significant cultural and intellectual contributions and who accept the aims and objectives of the PoC, and who are elected observing cultural, geographic and gender equity, as far as feasible. The candidates that have a governmental position (ambassadors, senior executives etc.) may be proposed for associate membership with a right to speak but not to vote. On termination of their official duties associate members may apply for full membership of the PoC.

• The Assembly is entitled to speak on behalf of the PoC and has the highest authority to issue manifestoes, bills of rights, declarations and statements. The Assembly debates, and approves or rejects, proposals submitted by the bodies of the PoC.

• The members of the Assembly are proposed by the Membership Committee. The term of membership for the Assembly is four years as of the date of appointment. That term
may be extended for periods of four years at a time, in accordance with the provisions of this Statute.

• Any member who will not attend three consecutive Assembly meetings without an excuse acceptable to the Standing Committee is considered resigned.

• The members of the Assembly elect the President of the Assembly and two Vice-Presidents for a period of two years and their terms may be renewed.

• The Assembly ordinarily meets once a year. It may also convene in extraordinary sessions upon the proposal of the Standing Committee or by the invitation of the Secretary General.

• The Assembly appoints four of its members to form the Standing Committee. The Assembly also appoints the members for the Membership Committee.

• Meetings of the Assembly and the Committees will be held with the members attending and decisions shall be taken by the votes of at least half of the members present and voting, plus one.


Article V: The Standing Committee
• The Standing Committee is the principal operating body of the PoC. It approves the budget and drafts policies to be submitted for approval to the Assembly. It also makes work plans for the Executive Committee and oversees their implementation.

• The Standing Committee comprises sixteen members as follows:

• The founders of the International Cultures Foundation or their representatives

• The President and two Vice - Presidents of the Assembly

• Two persons appointed by the President of The Club of Rome

• Two persons appointed by the President of the Ihsan Dogramaci Foundation

• Four persons appointed by the Assembly according to the provisions under Article IV- g

• Three persons co-opted by the thirteen members referred to in paragraphs i, ii, iii, iv and v above.

• Members of the Standing Committee serve for a period of five years. They may be eligible for re-appointment.

• The Standing Committee elects a Chairperson for a term of five years. The chairperson will be eligible for re-appointment. The Chairperson shall appoint two Vice-Chairpersons from among the members of the Committee to serve during his/her term and to chair the Standing Committee in his/her absence.

• The Standing Committee sets up its own schedule of meetings.

• The Standing Committee establishes regulations to govern collection and management of fees.

• Standing Committee decisions are taken by the votes of at least half of the members present and voting, plus one.

Article VI: The Membership Committee
• The Membership Committee may nominate candidates for Assembly membership on its own initiative and it reviews candidatures proposed by individuals, non-governmental organizations and other organizations and institutions, and submits them to the Assembly for approval. Extension of terms of membership is likewise considered by this Committee and submitted for approval to the Assembly.

• The Membership Committee drafts the terms and guidelines for membership of the Assembly and submits them to the Assembly for approval. The Committee also proposes to the Assembly revisions to those terms and guidelines as required.

• The Membership Committee is composed of:

i) The founders of the International Cultures Foundation or their representatives

• The Chairperson, or in his/her absence the Vice Chairperson, of the Standing Committee

• Three persons appointed by the Assembly from among its members

iv) Three persons appointed by the Standing Committee from among its members.

• The length of a term in the Membership Committee is four years and members shall be eligible for re-appointment..

• The Chairperson of the Standing Committee, or in his/her absence one of the Vice- Chairpersons of that Committee, presides at Membership Committee meetings.

• Membership Committee decisions are taken by the votes of at least half of the members present and voting, plus one.

Article VII: The Executive Committee
• The Executive Committee carries out the functions delegated to it by the Standing Committee, conducts PoC's day-to-day work and drafts the PoC budget.

• The Executive Committee appoints an Executive Secretary as well as the other staff members of the Secretariat of the PoC.

• The Executive Committee comprises five members appointed by the Standing Committee from among its members. At least three members of the Executive Committee must be Turkish nationals.

• The Executive Committee elects from among its members for a four-year term a Chairman who presides at the Executive Committee meetings and oversees the work of the Secretariat.

• The Executive Committee sets up its own schedule of meetings.

• Executive Committee decisions are taken by the votes of at least three members.


Article VIII: The Secretary General
• The Chairman of the Executive Committee, in his/her capacity as the chief executive officer of the PoC, shall serve as the Secretary General of the PoC and, in this capacity represents the Parliament of Cultures.

• In consultation with the President of the Assembly, the Secretary General may issue statements and call extra-ordinary meetings of the Assembly or the Committees.

Article IX: The Secretariat
• The Secretariat is the body in charge of office administration and record-keeping.

• The Secretariat employs an adequate number of staff, to be determined by the Executive Committee, to carry out the workload of the PoC.

• The Secretariat will be located in the headquarters in Ankara .

Article X: Financial Matters

The revenues of the PoC consist of the following:

• Any contributions by the members,

• Donations and bequests (stocks, bonds, movable goods, real estate and property), to which no conditions or strings may be attached which might interfere with or influence the policies of the PoC,

• Dividends and interest.

The auditing shall be carried out by certified public auditors.

Article XI: Other

a) Amendments to the Governing Statute or addition of any new articles shall be adopted by two thirds of the membership of the Assembly present at the meeting.

b) Issues that are not addressed in this Statute may be set down by regulations approved by the Assembly, provided they are not contradictory to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Statute.

http://radyobilkent.com/virtuallib.php

http://radyobilkent.com/pdf/SwedishEmbassyJordan.pdf

http://radyobilkent.com/pdf/SwedishEmbassyJordan.pdf

http://radyobilkent.com/pdf/LambethPalaceStatement.pdf

[ChristineMarie]

http://mm.dk/coexistenceofcivilizati...sh/indexUK.asp

[ChristineMarie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_of_Civilizations


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogu..._Civilizations

[ChristineMarie]

A possibility? Well see.




Obama message for Islam?

COMMENTARY:

Within the first 100 days of his term, President Barack Obama has said he will visit the capital city of a Muslim country to deliver a foreign policy speech breaking new ground in U.S. relations with the Muslim world. It is a bold move that can very quickly set his presidency on course for success, or failure

The location Mr. Obama selects for his speech will also be important. Site selection honors should not go to an "unworthy" Muslim state - i.e., one lacking tolerance towards nonbelievers. Thus, Saudi Arabia, though an ally, should not be considered.

But countries where the seed of tolerance has clearly blossomed - Muslim majority democracies such as Turkey, Indonesia or Mali, or, perhaps, even a tolerant Muslim constitutional monarchy such as Morocco - should be considered. The more tolerant the country selected, the more positive is the message of tolerance toward all religions conveyed by the leader of the Free World.

more

[ChristineMarie]

well well well

ok, now we have Turkey

now let's look at Historical Venues