Two workshops on the relationship between religious faiths and societies, that took place this morning, preceded the opening, in the afternoon, of the "General cultural Mediterranean States" taking place in Marseilles until tomorrow. The event, promoted by the EU, is part of 2008 as the Year of Intercultural Dialogue. "It will be an opportunity explain the promoters to reassert, just after the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Union for the Mediterranean, the essential character of the cultural dimension in the euro-Mediterranean partnership". Over 300 people "from society, the cultural world and the European and Mediterranean institutions" will be coming. Similar events had already been held in Paris in 2006, in Seville in 2007, and in Alexandria, Egypt, this year. Any conclusion of the meeting will be brought "to the attention of the political decision-makers and the public and private institutions". Workgroups will focus on the following issues: memories, histories, heritages; images, audiovisual, cinema; writings, translation, libraries; artists, artistic creation and mobility; religions and societies; modernisation of society and rights; education and university; identity, cultures, values and views of the Mediterranean. ” “
