The second intercultural forum organized by the Council of Europe and held at Troina, in Sicily, from 15 to 17 November, was called “Essential values for intercultural dialogue: towards a Europe for all citizens”. The main aims of the meeting were: “studying a programme of core values from the political, ethical, social and cultural viewpoint”; “examining attitudes and skills for intercultural dialogue and European citizenship”; “providing a venue for discussions with students, young artists and youth organizations of the host region”. The foundation “Open City Oasis” and the University of Catania contributed to the promotion of the meeting, with the support of the Japan Foundation in Tokyo. The Forum was attended, among others, by academics, researchers in intercultural and interreligious dialogue, representatives of cultural and religious communities, and experts on conflict prevention, human rights, immigration, mass media, education and social cohesion, who “together explains a press release of the Council of Europe represent a unique platform for exchanging ideas and discussing fundamental questions relating to the promotion of intercultural dialogue”. The Council of Europe has long worked on the concept of “intercultural dialogue” as a “means for the prevention of conflicts between communities”. After having studied “the obstacles to dialogue, including stereotypes and prejudices”, research had then concentrated “on the chances of extending dialogue between any culture and tradition”. Vjeran Katunaric, sociologist at the University of Zagreb, said that “intercultural dialogue conditions the place and role of Europe in tomorrow’s world”. Dialogue, in his view, “consists not in saying hello to one’s neighbour, but has a far wider perspective, aimed at discovering the nature of the other person. It means not dominating, but sharing something that has at times been forgotten by our democratic societies”. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1342 N.ro relativo : 82 Data pubblicazione : 20/11/04
