19th annual session of Crans Montana Forum (CMF) taking place in Monaco

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The next and 19th Annual Crans Montana Forum will take place in Monaco, June 26 to 29, 2008.

It will be dedicated to the role of the Mediterranean as the unavoidable crossroads of relations between the EU, Central and South Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East.

It will be held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kandeh Yumkella Director General of UNIDO, Mr. Suleiman J. Al Herbish Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development - OFID and Mr. Abdulraheem Naqi Secretary General of the Federation of Chambers of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

'The topics/sessions will discuss the latest economic strategies and policies, and the most current and available investment opportunities will be highlighted.

Furthermore, the Forum will provide a platform for the exchange of professional expertise, and enhance dialogue on a variety of key topics of mutual interest, including: common market, commercial arbitration, free economy, economic co-operation, investment promotion, etc.,' Mr. Osama Al Khajah, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Crans Montana Forum-Middle East (CMF - ME) commented.

Among the major topics to be addressed:

- Global security in the EU and in the Mediterranean space regional and international Cooperation : the meeting will be co-chaired by Mr. Alain Le Roy Ambassador and Head of the Mission for the Union for the Mediterranean and Mr. Jean-Louis Bruguière High Representative of the European Union. Among the panellists : Mr. Richard Douglas Dep. Assistant Secretary of Defence for Counternarcotics, Counterproliferation and Global Threats, US Department of Defence, USA

- Towards a union for Mediterranean : with the participation of Mr. Abbas El Fassi Prime Minister of Morocco, Mr. Simeon Saxe Cobourg Ghotha Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Didier Reynders Dep. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Belgium, Mr. Christos Zois Dep. Minister for the Interior, Greece

- Challenges common to the Euro-Mediterranean World and Arab States - building a future in peace and security chaired by Mr. Bernard Savage, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, European Union and Mr. Pascal Chaigneau Dean, Crans Montana Graduate Institute of International Studies, IUHEI, Monaco, with the participation of Mr. Mohamed Elyazghi Minister of State, Morocco, Mr. Abdulraheem Naqi Secretary General, Federation of Gulf Cooperation Council's Chambers and many other personalities

In the framework of this event, gathering each year more than 500 decision-makers from all over the World, Forums within the Forum will be organised on the following issues:

- The 3rd Annual Session of the Dialogue of Civilizations under the chairmanship of Mr. Federico Mayor Co-President of the UN High Level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations and Mr. Abdulaziz Altwaijri PRIX DE LA FONDATION, Director General of ISESCO. This year the Forum on the Dialogue of Civilizations will welcome as the Guest of Honour, H.R.H. Prince Turki Al Faisal Al Saud President of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, Saudi Arabia.

- The Forum on the Challenges of the World Economy: Sovereign Funds chaired by Mr. Philippe de Fontaine Vive Vice President of the European Investment Bank with the participation of Mr. Jason Azzopardi Jr. Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment, Malta, Mr. Mohammed S. Al Omar General Manager, Kuwait Finance House - Kuwait Finance House and many other personalities.

- The 4th Meeting of National and European Parliamentarians which will be held on the topic 'Innovations in Governance and Public Administration in the Euro-Mediterranean Region' under the chair of Mr. Guido Bertucci Director, Division of Public Administration and Development Management, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN with the participation of Mrs. Gertrude Mongella Speaker, Pan African Parliament, Mr. Christian Poortman Managing Director, Transparency International and many other Parliamentarians from Europe and the World.

- The Forum on the 'Security in the Mediterranean - Maritime Transport' a special Ministerial meeting on security issues.

- The Forum on 'Women in Public Life' addressing the increasing frequency of women holding key positions in the political and business fields. The most important and influential women will attend this Forum, among them : Mrs. Elisabeth Decrey Warner President, Geneva Call, Switzerland, Mrs. Fawzia Al Ashmawi Chairman, European Forum for Muslim Women, Mrs. Teuta Topi First Lady of the Republic of Albania, Mrs. Svetlana Vujanovic First Lady of the Republic of Montenegro, Mrs. Azeb Mesfin First Lay of Ethiopia.