British Parliamentarians to address a seminar on Muslim world & West - Coexistence of civilizations

The International Forum, which was launched in September 2004 with a keynote address by Human Rights Lawyer, Ms Cheri Booth-Blair QC, who is also the wife of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, was set up by Dubai based journalists as an effort to make a positive contribution to journalism and promote better understanding on issues of conflict, and has since organized other events on different prevailing subjects.

The forthcoming seminar would focus on the relations between the Muslim World and The West and proposing a positive way forward to build bridges and explore ways of working together for world peace"said Javed Malik who is the organizer and moderator of the Forum.

Guest speakers would include Lord Merlin Hay The Earl of Erroll, a cross bench member the British House of Lords, Lady Olga Maitland, President of the widely respected British think tank, Defense & Security Forum of UK who has also been a former Conservative MP, as well as Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, The first Muslim who was elevated to the upper house of British Parliament by the Labour government.

The Theory of "Clash of Civilizations" presented by the prominent Harvard Professor, Samuel Huntington which received renewed international acclaim in the post 9/11 world suggests that "conflict between civilizations will be the latest phase in the evolution of conflict in the modern world" it further maintains that "most important conflicts of the future will occur along the cultural fault lines separating civilizations from one another". Placing great emphasis on the way relations between West and Muslim World will merge, this topic has been a major subject of discussion at the world stage at various levels. Many leading intellectual and political figures have not only rejected the thesis but also proposed the alternative "Dialogue of Civilizations", which on the one hand acknowledges the existence of various cultures, civilizations and recognizes the potential of conflict but at the same time advocates major conflicts.

The Speakers would give their talks focusing on the need to develop mutual understanding on issues of conflict and proposing a theme leading to a much needed dialogue to evolve bridges of understanding between the Muslim world and the western world in order to promote world peace, prosperity and build a world based on tolerance, co-existence and mutual respect for each other.

KT - International Forum in addition to a inaugural lecture by Cheri Blair, has also organized other events including a two day Finance & E-commerce which was attended by leading European bankers, including Mr Roly Alden, Managing Director Bank of Ireland, Mr. John Sheath, MD Bradford and Bingley Bank, as well as Chris Hall the CEO of Manx Telecom, the keynote address was by Hon. Alex Downie Minister for Trade & Industry Government of Isle of Man.