Nobel Peace Prize winner De Klerk for Leaders in Dubai

In his first speech after assuming the party leadership, de Klerk, who was inaugurated as president in 1989, called for a non-racist South Africa and for negotiations about the country's future.

On February 2, 1990 he lifted the ban on the ANC and all other political organisations and announced the release of Nelson Mandela. He brought apartheid to an end and opened the way for the drafting of a new South African constitution based on the principle of one person, one vote and the entrenchment of basic human rights.

Together with Mandela, de Klerk was awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for their work in ending apartheid and laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. He served as president until Mandela's inauguration in 1994.

De Klerk takes his place in the Leaders in Dubai line-up in place of former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, who is now unable to appear at the event.

Tina Schneidermann, president of the event organisers Leading Minds, said: 'Since he retired from active politics the former South African president has established the F W de Klerk Foundation, which is dedicated to the promotion of peace in multi-communal societies.

'Former president de Klerk is well placed to initiate debate on the promotion of harmonious relations in multi-communal societies.

'His presence at Leaders in Dubai adds another international dimension to the summit, and will inspire comment and discussion between more than 2,000 business leaders at the event.'

De Klerk is in the process of establishing the Global Leadership Foundation, which will be registered in Switzerland with operational headquarters in London. Its objective is to play a constructive role in the promotion of peace, democracy and development around the world, and a number of internationally respected former political leaders are set to join him in the initiative.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner also plays a substantial role in Forum 2000, a think-tank initiated by former President Vaclav Havel and Nobel laureate Eli Wiessel. In addition, he serves on the advisory board of the Global Panel in Germany.

Eight business and political headline names will take part in the debate on leadership best practices at Leaders in Dubai, to be held on November 28 - 29 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

Regional business leaders - the Leaders in Dubai corporate alumni - have confirmed their support for the event. They include: HE Sheikh Faisal Al Qassemi, founder of the Al Qasimi Group; Nabila Al Anjari, Assistant Under-Secretary for Tourism Affairs in Kuwait; Aramex's President and CEO Fadi Ghandour; former Lebanese minister of national economy Saeb Jaroudi; Bharat Jashanmal, of the GCC retail corporation Jashanmal & Sons; Khamis Al Muqla, founder and chairman of Gulf Hill & Knowlton and Gulf Saatchi & Saatchi; Lebanese industrialist Jacques Sarraf; veteran hotelier Sami Zoghbi, regional head of Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts; and Saudi industrialist Abdulla al Zamil.

Headline sponsors include international names Citigroup, EMAAR, Mastercard, Nokia and Saudi Oger Ltd.

CNN is the international media partner, with Al Arabiya News Channel as headline media partner. Media sponsors are Al Hayat, AME Info, Gulf Business, Gulf News and Oman Economic Review.

LEADING MINDS, part of the international conference organisers IIR, is a company specialising in presenting the latest thoughts and groundbreaking ideas from pre-eminent international business authorities.