SEVENTY COUNTRIES TO TAKE PART IN GLOBAL MEET ON "DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS" : PM TO OPEN TOMORROW

---

Seventy countries including Pakistan, China and Japan are to take part in the global meet on "Dialogue Among Civilizations", opening here tomorrow. The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the two-day meeting jointly organized by the Government of India and UNESCO. The DG, UNESCO will be the chief guest and the Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi will preside. The last such conference was initiated by Iran in 1998.

India feels that developments since then have necessitated continuation of the dialogue and all member countries of UNESCO believe that New Delhi is best suited for the event, as it believes in dialogue and wants to promote interdependence among nations, bring civilizations closer and establish a world, free of conflicts.

Three sub-themes have been chosen i.e. Education, Science and Technology and Ethical Values to go about freeing the world from conflicts and violence. Education is necessary to create a mind-set and promote dialogue. Science and Technology is a mechanism to uplift people and end disparities. Ethical values are very important for understanding each other, promote tolerance, compassion and accept plurality.

At the end of the conference a Delhi Declaration will be issued spelling out the future strategy for human advancement and world peace.