Issue 10: July-August 2001

Conference
will analyse
ways to create
meaningful
cross-cultural
dialogue

This conference, part of UNU’s contribution to the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations 2001, will draw upon UNU’s unique identity as an academic institution rooted in the U.N. system to provide an in-depth analysis of the prerequisites and characteristics of meaningful dialogue across cultural, religious, language, political and other divides of modern-day societies.

Reflecting UNU’s global perspective, the conference will bring together academics, policy makers and other professionals from diverse backgrounds for in-depth discussions aimed at exploring such questions as: 

• What is necessary to realize a meaningful dialogue among civilizations? 
• What can we learn from past dialogues? 
• What effect could an increased dialogue have on the substance and process of international relations? 
• In what ways does multicultural society contribute to dialogue among civilizations? 
• What inspirations can we draw, what lessons can we learn from the Asian experience in civilizational dialogue? 
• Is there such thing as a “global ethos” – a common overarching human value system that transcends cultural and civilizational differences?

Koichiro Matsuura will participate in a special session during the conference.

Keynote speakers for the conference will be Dr. Ataollah Mohajerani, Director of the International Center for the Dialogue among Civilizations in Teheran, Iran; Mrs.Vigdis Finnbogadottir, former President of the Republic of Iceland and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders; and Dr. Hayao Kawai, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University. 

There will be a special session on Political Dimensions of the Dialogue of Civilizations, to be chaired by UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura, with the participation of Mr. Giandomenico Picco, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN for the Dialogue among Civilizations; and other distinguished speakers.

The conference will be held in the U Thant International Conference Hall of the UN House in Tokyo on July 31 and August 1, to be continued at the Kyoto International Conference Hall on August 2 and 3. It is supported by Asahi Shimbun; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan; and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO.

The conference is open to the public, although advance registration is required. More information, including the programme and registration form, is available online at the International Conference on the Dialogue of Civilizations web site, where the conference will also be broadcast live.

For information, please contact UNU Public Affairs.