Trialogue: The Impact of Dialogue and Cultural Interaction on the Resolution of Conflicts Session
Posted on
Alexandria—
As part of the Third Conference on the Dialogue among People and Cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Areas, organized by the Institute for Peace Studies (IPS) at the BA, 19–21 January 2008, a session entitled “Trialogue: The Impact of Dialogue and Cultural Interaction on the Resolution of Conflicts” was held, moderated by Jan Henningsson, Director of the Swedish Institute, Sweden.
At the beginning of the session, Jan Henningsson praised the role played by the BA as beacon of knowledge and the tireless efforts exerted by Dr. Ismail Serageldin in enhancing dialogue especially among youth. He emphasized that knowledge could not be attained away from culture or civilization, and that special focus should be given to values of creativity. He concluded that learning gives splendor to things, however success increases their glory.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, started his address by expressing his delight that the BA was selected to host the Third Conference on the Dialogue among People and Cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Areas on Egypt’s land, reflecting the sincere desire to support understanding and dialogue among different civilizations.
He added that the long tradition of openness to the other and of tolerance of diversity throughout Muslim and Arab history had its impact on enriching our culture and civilization. Dr. Serageldin spoke on cultural identity today, which is threatened by globalization, and which is affected by the power of linguistic and cultural imports. He raised a question on why was the glorious enriching co-existence possible a thousand years ago and is not even imaginable in the Muslim World today. He said that the Muslim and Arab World feel dominated and victimized by a hegemonic west, resentful of its leaders and insecure in its self-image, and emphasized that tolerance requires security.
The floor was given to Laila Takla, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the UN Human Rights Technical Cooperation Programs and Member of Foreign Relations Committee of the Peoples’ Assembly, Egypt, and one of the supporters of the role played by women for peace. She said that theories on the clash of civilizations and religions adopted by some led to a state of discrimination as a result of some differences. She added that there is a common heritage between Muslims and Christians but is unknown to us. The Holy Quran in Surat Al-Baqarah mentioned that Allah has given Jesus knowledge and that His birth was a miracle. The story of Jesus was mentioned in the Quran in Surat Al Imran and Surat Maryam slightly different from what was mentioned in the Bible.
She mentioned that we have to refrain from the use of violence and to understand its economic and political dimensions. She praised the effective role played by the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement in fighting against discrimination and fanaticism.
Cengiz Aktar, Director of the EU Research and Documentation Center at the University of Bahcesehir, Turkey, and leader of diplomatic efforts to render Istanbul “the Capital of European Culture for the year 2010”. He spoke about the impact of cultural dialogue and today’s threat that culture is a pretext to end dialogue.
He raised the issue of Turkey and the EU, and spoke on the claims raised by some member states on the dangers imposed by Islam and that Turks are Muslim, and thus, they are dangerous. He concluded that several ideologies refer to Islam as dogmatic and ignore the new religious thoughts conforming with the new age.