WEF promotes dialogue with Muslim countries

Relations between Islam and the West are being sorely tested Keystone

The prospect of war in Iraq is dominating discussions at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

In an effort to promote dialogue between the West and the Islamic world, the WEF has forged a new assembly bringing together decision-makers from both sides.

The Council of 100 (C-100) will include leading figures from the worlds of business, government, academia, religion and the media.

It is due to be launched at this year’s meeting, which takes place between 23 and 28 January.

The president and founder of the forum, Klaus Schwab, is convinced that such a move is absolutely essential.

“We are committed to promote a substantive and permanent dialogue between the Islamic world and the West, and we believe that the creation of a council can contribute to a dialogue of civilisations,” he said.

The council is expected to focus on a wide array of themes, such as understanding good governance and democracies, integration and immigration, as well as the challenges of globalisation and integration.

Building bridges

Alexander Theocharides, coordinator of the C-100, believes open debate offers one of the best hopes of building bridges between the two sides.

“Conflict generally emerges from a break in dialogue. I do not see any situation in history where dialogue led to conflict,” he said.

“So if we’re looking proactively into the future and not reactively, we may be planting the seeds for stability in the region.”

Theocharides added that a number of high-level business and political leaders had already signed up to join the C-100.

“We have senior foreign affairs ministers from Arab countries, and we have intellectuals such as the former Archbishop of Canterbury and Germany’s president, Johannes Rau,” he explained.

Fundamentally incompatible

Theocharides also took the opportunity to attack the media for painting a false picture of the relationship between the two sides.

“The media is portraying the western and the Islamic worlds as fundamentally incompatible,” he told swissinfo.

“But our belief is that the issue necessitates a much more in-depth analysis and understanding of the matter.”

Forum officials expect the final composition of the C-100 to be decided in Davos. It is due to convene during 2003 at the WEF’s headquarters in Geneva.

swissinfo, Billi Bierling

Key facts

The Council of 100 will be launched at this year’s WEF in Davos.
It will promote dialogue between the West and the Islamic world.
It will consist of leading figures of business, government, academia and religion.