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Albabtain Cultural Foundation announces the program and speakers of the inauguration of the "World Forum for the Culture of Peace" at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Thursday.

June 2, 2019

On Thursday, June 13, 2019, the activities of the World Forum for the Culture of Peace, organized by Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, will commence at the Peace Palace in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The Forum will be attended by political, academic, and cultural figures from various parts of the world. The Foundation has selected two main themes for the Forum: "Teaching Peace Culture" and "Safeguarding World Cultural Heritage," which will headline the Forum's agenda.

Distinguished representatives from several countries will be delivering lectures on these themes. Additionally, the Foundation will present 17 curricula aimed at teaching peace culture globally, from early childhood education to university level. These curricula have previously received approval from the United Nations General Assembly.

The Forum's program encompasses profound discussions on peace, led by prominent figures.

The opening ceremony will feature addresses by notable individuals, including the President of Malta, George Vella, and remarks from Joëlle Gondre, representing the Dutch government and Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Eric de Baedts, President of Carnegie Peace Palace in the Netherlands, Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, the Chairman of the Foundation, and His Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al Saud from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The first session will be chaired by former President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haris Silajdžić. The speakers for this session include the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, the Secretary-General of the Arab Maghreb Union, Taieb Baccouche, Yemeni Foreign Minister, Khaled Al-Yamani, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, President of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Hilal Al-Sayer, and Mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando.

The second session will be chaired by the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The speakers in this session include the Representative of the President of Iraq, Ali Al-Shukri, Chairwoman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Yemen, Abdullah Lamlas, and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Yusuf Koran.

The third session will be chaired by the President of the International Peace Institute (IPI), Terje Rød-Larsen. The speakers for this session are President of the Maltese Parliament and former Foreign Minister, Michael Frendo, Minister of Education and Higher Education in Kuwait, Hamad Al-Azmi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic, Sylvie Baipo-Temon, European Parliament Member Tokia Saïfi, Minister of Education of the Central African Republic, Moukadas Noury, and UNESCO Advisor for Cultural Heritage, Monir Bouchenaki.

The closing session will be chaired by the President of the International Court of Justice, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. Speakers in this session include President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Mr. Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, Chairman of the Foundation, Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, former President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, former President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, Representative of the President of Tunisia, Hassane Erray, Special Envoy to the President of Liberia, Laurence Konmla, and head of the Reform and Reconstruction Alliance in Iraq, Ammar Al-Hakim. The concluding speech will be delivered by the President of Leiden University, Carel Stolker.

Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, Chairman of the Foundation, stated, "This Forum comes in partnership with the International Peace Institute (IPI), Leiden University in the Netherlands, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the Peace Palace in the International Court of Justice. Prominent figures with political, cultural, media, and civil influence have been invited to attend."

Mr. Albabtain further added, "This Forum convenes at a critical time when the world is in dire need of peace and the establishment of principles for human coexistence. Humanity has entered the final decade of a time marked by heightened internal and external conflicts and crises."


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