INTERNATIONAL FORUM
"FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE AND DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS
IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM"
Moscow, Russian Federation,
13 - 16 May 1999
under the auspices of

Federico MAYOR,
Director-General of UNESCO

and

Yuri LUJKOV,
Mayor of Moscow

General Information

EXPLANATORY NOTE

An International Forum « For a Culture of Peace and Dialogue among Civilizations in the Third Millennium » will be held in Moscow, Russian Federation, from 13 to 16 May 1999 in response to the appeal of Russian representatives of culture and science, under the auspices and with the participation of Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO, and Yuri Lujkov, Mayor of Moscow.

The initiative of a group of Russian representatives of culture and science to convene such a Forum in Moscow was inspired by several factors, in particular:

- Moscow, over its 850 years-long history, has withstood numerous foreign invasions, disastrous fires and destruction, sustained heavy losses in many wars during the Second Millennium. It is therefore symbolic that mayors and people prominent in science and culture from its twin cities as well as from the cities which were subjected to military siege and destruction are invited by the authorities of the City Hall of the Russian capital;

- Moscow, like the whole of Russia, has a century-long experience of peaceful co-habitation with the Slavic, Turk, Ugro-Finnish and other civilizations. Under conditions of deteriorating inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations and the increase of aggressive intolerance and violence in different parts of the world, a special role is played by the exchange of experiences in a dialogue of different cultures and civilizations;

- Over many years Moscow, as a mega-city, has maintained active links with UNESCO and has developed numerous programmes of co-operation with the Organization, notably activities in the framework of the Transdisciplinary Project "Towards a Culture of Peace";

- In this context, the authorities in Moscow, a city in which several UNESCO Chairs and Institutes for a Culture of Peace, Human Rights and Democracy have been created at different academic institutes and which possesses a substantial scientific and cultural potential comprising institutions and specialists with a rich and long experience of co-operation with UNESCO, together with the participants of this International Forum express their support for a global public movement aimed at creating conditions in order the Third Millennium will start by replacing a culture of war by a culture of dialogue, non-violence and peace.

PARTICIPANTS AND AIMS OF THE FORUM

The Moscow International Forum is organized by the Government of Moscow in the framework of the project "For peace and tolerance, for a dialogue between cultures" which is an integral part of the Transdisciplinary Project "Towards a Culture of Peace" (UNESCO document 29 C/5, para. 06035) and fully corresponds to the spirit of various resolutions on the promotion of a culture of peace, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 29th session in November 1997.

The main aim of the Forum is to contribute to the strengthening of actions of solidarity undertaken by mayors of cities and representatives of science and culture in order to promote a culture of peace which must replace a culture of war, and to support the spirit and practice of dialogue among civilizations to assist in removing threats to peace.

The Forum will gather together approximately 200 prominent figures of science, culture and public life, as well as mayors of different cities in order that they may exchange their experiences of co-operation between municipal structures and figures of culture and science in educating and training of citizens, and especially young people, in the spirit of a culture of peace and dialogue.

The participants in the Forum are invited in their personal capacity. The Government of the Russian Federation will ensure the security of the participants during their stay in Russia.

One of the most important aims of the Forum is to draw the attention of the world community and public opinion in general to the fact that the task of building a culture of peace necessitates comprehensive educational, cultural, social and civic activities which must be the responsibility of everybody, of all people without distinction of age or social ground. An essential role in the creation of conditions for the development of a culture of peace and dialogue belongs to civil society , including those persons who deal with resolving political, economic, social and cultural problems.

The Forum will constitute a tribune whose aim is to reaffirm the important role of those whose activities have a direct and multifaceted influence on the minds of men and women. These include, in particular, political and public leaders, parliamentarians and members of other elected bodies, including mayors of cities and towns, teachers and professors at all levels of education, as well as those who deal with the non-formal education of children and adults, journalists, intellectuals in general, religious leaders, and those who have executive functions, non-governmental organizations, especially those working with women and young people.

In preparing the Forum, concrete recommendations and a programme of action in support of efforts of mayors and representatives of culture and science aimed at combating the spirit and practice of violence and intolerance, including the dissemination of teaching materials for a culture of peace, tolerance, international understanding, good neighbourliness, respect of all human rights, strengthening of democratic principles and defence of the environment will be elaborated.

The participants may adopt, if they so wish, a "Moscow Declaration and Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace and Dialogue among Civilizations in the Third Millennium" which will concern the need for cardinal change from the values, orientations, views and ways of behaviour in the spirit of a culture of war and violence to those which will encourage the spirit of a culture of peace.

In view of the decision of the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim the year 2000 "International Year for the Culture of Peace" as well as its decision to proclaim the year 2001 "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", the holding of an International Forum "For a Culture of Peace and Dialogue among Civilizations" will make a concrete contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on the eve of the Third Millennium.

CHARACTER OF THE FORUM

The work of the Forum will comprise two plenary sessions of half a day each on 14 May (a.m.) and 15 May (p.m.), one panel discussion with the participation of leaders of youth organizations, and three round tables, which will take place simultaneously on 14 May (p.m.) and 15 May (a.m.).

The opening ceremony of the Forum will include speeches by the Director-General of UNESCO and the Mayor of Moscow.

The first plenary session will be devoted to the topic "For a Culture of Peace and Dialogue of Civilizations in the Third Millennium", with interventions of eminent personalities of cultural, scientific and public life.

The topics of the panel discussion and round tables will be:

- Round table: "Individuals, Cities, Civilizations» (14 May p.m.);

- Round table: "Education for consolidating a culture of peace, tolerance, non-violence and dialogue" (14 May, p.m.);

- Round table: "Prevention of conflicts and violence: the role of mayors of cities and members of scientific, cultural and mass media circles" (15 May, a.m.);

- Panel discussion: "A culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations: the role of youth leaders" (15 May a.m.) with the participation of leaders of youth organizations.

The debates during the round tables will be opened by the moderators who will introduce briefly the subject which will then be followed by a discussion. The participants are invited to choose the round-table in which they will participate.

The closing plenary session will include reports of the work of the round tables, the adoption of documents of the Forum and interventions of the participants.

A more detailed programme will be elaborated and sent to the participants of the Forum in due course.

Confirmation of participation

All participants are requested to confirm their attendance as soon as possible by fax: No. 33.1-45.68.57.27.

The provisional programme and the Appeal of the Russian representatives of science and culture are attached. Further information and working documents will be sent shortly.

WORKING LANGUAGES

The official languages of the meeting, in which simultaneous interpretation will be provided, are English, French and Russian.

For Spanish-speaking participants interpretation from and into Spanish will also be ensured.

BOARD AND LODGING

A block reservation of rooms at a hotel in Moscow will be made for participants. The basic costs of accommodation and full board, as well as local travel expenses, will be borne by the Organizing Committee.

TRAVEL

The participants are requested to fill in the application form concerning their travel requirements.

PREPARATORY WORK

Organizing Committee

The preparatory work will be carried out by an Organizing Committee headed by Valeriy Shanzev, Deputy-Mayor of Moscow (36, uliza Novyi Arbat, 121205 Moscow; telephone: 7095-290-8738/ 202-9271/ 290-7420; telefax: 7095-202-4534/ 290-9416; e-mail: ovmsai@maria2.mos.ru).

Vladimir Lomeiko, Special Adviser to the Director-General of UNESCO, responsible for the project "For peace and tolerance, for a dialogue among cultures", is Co-ordinator of the Forum at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Irina Zubenko is Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee in Paris (telephone: 33.1-45.68.38.22).

The Organizing Committee also comprises representatives of cultural life of Moscow, officials from Moscow City Hall and academic and business circles.

Practical arrangements

Practical arrangements for the Forum will be assured jointly by the competent Moscow authorities and UNESCO.

CORRESPONDENCE

All correspondence concerning the Forum should be addressed to UNESCO Headquarters:

Mr V. Lomeiko
Special Adviser to the Director-General of UNESCO
Co-ordinator of the Moscow International Forum
UNESCO House
1, rue Miollis
75732 PARIS CEDEX 15
France

Telephone: (33.1) 45.68.42.85 / (33.1) 45.68.38.22.
Fax: (33.1) 45.68.57.27/ 26.
E-mail: i.zoubenko@unesco.org