This event has not yet received attention by the Egyptian and Arabic mass media in spite of its extreme importance. Choosing Alexandria – with its history of civilization and cultural enlightenment – to become the premises for the Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures and Civilization (25 European countries + 10 South Mediterranean Countries) means so much. It provokes us to seek the opportunity – through this Foundation – for intellectual and cultural gathering in order to contribute effectively and influentially in structuring the concepts presented worldwide and in order to highlight our special views based on our deep heritage, reading our contemporary reality, and looking forward for a future where we hope to be participants, not followers, and practitioners of the principles of rightness, justice, good, and beauty.
Dr Ismail Serageldin: we are happy with the decision taken by the Euro-Mediterranean partnership for Alexandria to be the premises for the Foundation of Dialogue between civilizations and cultures and to be hosted by Bibliotheca Alexandrina in cooperation with the Swedish Cultural Institute. In honor of the deceased Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was assassinated, the Foundation will carry the name of Anna Lindh, since she took the initiative of establishing the foundation and she saw that it should be a cooperative initiative between Egypt and Sweden. This was appreciated by the Egyptian government, and we worked together until this decision was reached.
Its importance is that it was taken during a period where controversies increase and human rights are neglected, and atrocities are committed by countries which we expected to be an example for human and democratic practices according to its picturing of it-self and to what it announces. Thus, in this period we are in a great need to open windows on the Other rather than dreading him because dialogue means promoting the culture of peace and the idea of diversity and accepting the Other… this is an interpretation of the Barcelona declaration where besides the political and economic work there should exist this cultural and civilization link. If we look at the Mediterranean region we will find that it was actually a melting pot for the interaction of civilizations. The richest periods of nourishment that the region witnessed were during the eras of the Library of Alexandria – previously – and Spain and other countries on the two sides of the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is appropriate and necessary to retrieve this old glory by confirming the interaction and meeting between the civilizations to confirm the concepts of the peace culture, dialogue, diversity, and other concepts.
I should point out, here, and praise that this is the first time that the Euro-Mediterranean partnership establishes a foundation south of the Mediterranean; there are two other foundations: one in Spain and the other in France.
Prof. Jan Henningsson: First, I would like to welcome this chance which is the first for me to participate in a seminar organized by Al Ahram and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which is considered one of the symbols of dialogue. Sweden welcomes the decision to establish the Foundation here. We are also happy that it is to be named after the late Minister Anna Lindh, and since we, also, believe that dialogue should be between equal parties, choosing the premises of this foundation in Alexandria, that is in the south, implements this equality in practice so that dialogue is completely equal between all parties.
As you know, Sweden does not have a hostile or colonization history with this region and it does not have any contemporary greed, but it has a political and cultural view originating in dialogue and avoiding prejudices and aiming at discovering the cultural dimensions in order to build bridges between the different parties. That is what was indicated in the agreement of establishing the Foundation, at the ministerial meeting for the Euro-Mediterranean partnership in Naples last December. It also aimed to avoid racial discrimination and to respect religions and beliefs.
Sweden, always, welcomes any serious effort to build human bridges, and cultural understanding and harmony. We expect the new Foundation to play an important role in this direction. With regards to priorities, Sweden has identified some since two years with the aim to concentrate on the role of Media, on Education and Scientific Research. and on Youth and how to develop it. We expect that the foundation will include not only politicians but also intellectuals, journalists and artists. These are expected to contribute in structuring and implementing the policy and programs of dialogue between civilizations and cultures in order to involve civil society for an increased understanding.
At the beginning the Foundation will work in co-ordination with cultural organizations and available information networks. It will have its Board of Governors; at the beginning, this board will be formed of representatives from the member states, who will choose from among them a chairperson. This board will, also, set an organization for work and will choose the director. The activities will be decided according to a set estimated budget of ten million Euros. Implementation steps are expected to start next October.
Dr Ismail Serageldin: Regarding the organizational chart, the countries will appoint the Board or the Board of Trustees, nominations for the director of the foundation already started where the number of nominees reached 96 nominees. These were then shortlisted to ten, among whom negotiations are going on to choose one of them to undertake his duties and choose his assistants. With respect to the premises, we will allocate a group of offices at the Bibliotheca for the Foundation; the Swedish Institute will do the same, so that work can begin in a suitable place where all resources are available. I should add that there is a recommendation in the decision for establishing the Foundation stating the necessity for co-operating with those countries which offered to host the foundation, namely Malta, Cyprus and Italy, who should be included in the programs that will be organized.
I agree that the atmosphere in which the foundation will be established is difficult, but this increases its importance, necessity and the interest of people in it. I should add another important issue which concerns us at the Bibliotheca, and that is: why was the dialogue of civilizations and cultures restricted to describing the society itself or the Other and some discussions? We found that one of the reasons of the problem is the lack of scientific approach especially on the Arab side. Therefore a unit at the Bibliotheca has specialized for this reason.
Prof. Jan Henningsson: I would like to point out that the Barcelona Process has three dimensions: the political, the economic, and the cultural. Thus the new Foundation will concentrate primarily on the third dimension including civil society. The credibility of the Foundation builds on several pillars, the first is that the presence of the premises of the Foundation in the South of the Mediterranean (Alexandria) provides a greater opportunity for the participation by Arabs in the discussions. There should, also, be more contributions by journalists, artists and youth which would add value to the Barcelona initiative and augment its credibility.
(Unofficial translation from Arabic made by Maha Gaama)