Al-Ahram Weekly, of Egypt, recently reported on a conference dedicated to ?Arab Thinking?. Headed, ?Since 9/11, Arabs have faced no end of problems resulting from their negative image internationally...? the article attempts to describe how Arab thinkers have put the issue ?on the agenda of many think-tanks, governments and intellectuals in the Arab world.?
The article quotes ?Ali Maher, secretary-general of the Beirut-based Arab Thought Foundation, as saying, ?This is a very serious matter. We have to work to project to the entire world the true image of Arabs and their culture, which I would say is a positive one. We face a serious offensive from the media and other quarters that aims to tarnish our image, but we should not ignore this attack.? To that end, the Weekly reported, Maher, Egypt?s former ambassador to France, ?could not have been more emphatic in stressing the need for improving cross-cultural dialogue and the presentation of Arab culture.? The Egyptian newspaper reports, ?According to Maher, if the Arabs' only action is to nurse their wounds by looking for solace in their impressive cultural heritage, then the offensive against them is bound to continue and the damage to their image will only worsen.? This will inevitably lead to ?the Arabs [becoming] even angrier over the attacks to which they are subjected,? Maher explained.
The Arab Thought Foundation was initiated by Saudi Arabian Prince Khaled Al-Faisal in May 2000, reports the al-Ahram Weekly, as a forum for Arab-Arab dialogue, but it has recently ?taken up the challenge of Arab-non-Arab dialogue....? For 2003, the Foundation has planned the ?Second Arab Thinking Conference? in Beirut, under the auspices of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, reports the Egyptian newspaper. According to the report, ?the Beirut conference will host a group of Arab and foreign intellectuals to engage in a debate on all manner of political, cultural and even economic issues. At the top of the Beirut conference's agenda is the need for inter-Arab tolerance and cooperation. Other issues, like cross-cultural and cross-religion dialogue, are also slated for discussion.?
Maher told the Weekly, ?Better rapport among all peoples is what we are talking about here. Take, for example, the Egyptian-French relationship. There is no denying that the close cultural rapport between the French and Egyptians played an important role in stimulating strong relations between the two countries.? The former Egyptian diplomat is quoted as saying, ?International relations cannot be compartmentalized. If you want to have good political and economic relations, you need to have good cultural rapport, and for this to happen we have to engage in dialogue and communicate.?
It is not known if any Israelis are slated to attend the ?Arab Thinking Conference.?
The article quotes ?Ali Maher, secretary-general of the Beirut-based Arab Thought Foundation, as saying, ?This is a very serious matter. We have to work to project to the entire world the true image of Arabs and their culture, which I would say is a positive one. We face a serious offensive from the media and other quarters that aims to tarnish our image, but we should not ignore this attack.? To that end, the Weekly reported, Maher, Egypt?s former ambassador to France, ?could not have been more emphatic in stressing the need for improving cross-cultural dialogue and the presentation of Arab culture.? The Egyptian newspaper reports, ?According to Maher, if the Arabs' only action is to nurse their wounds by looking for solace in their impressive cultural heritage, then the offensive against them is bound to continue and the damage to their image will only worsen.? This will inevitably lead to ?the Arabs [becoming] even angrier over the attacks to which they are subjected,? Maher explained.
The Arab Thought Foundation was initiated by Saudi Arabian Prince Khaled Al-Faisal in May 2000, reports the al-Ahram Weekly, as a forum for Arab-Arab dialogue, but it has recently ?taken up the challenge of Arab-non-Arab dialogue....? For 2003, the Foundation has planned the ?Second Arab Thinking Conference? in Beirut, under the auspices of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, reports the Egyptian newspaper. According to the report, ?the Beirut conference will host a group of Arab and foreign intellectuals to engage in a debate on all manner of political, cultural and even economic issues. At the top of the Beirut conference's agenda is the need for inter-Arab tolerance and cooperation. Other issues, like cross-cultural and cross-religion dialogue, are also slated for discussion.?
Maher told the Weekly, ?Better rapport among all peoples is what we are talking about here. Take, for example, the Egyptian-French relationship. There is no denying that the close cultural rapport between the French and Egyptians played an important role in stimulating strong relations between the two countries.? The former Egyptian diplomat is quoted as saying, ?International relations cannot be compartmentalized. If you want to have good political and economic relations, you need to have good cultural rapport, and for this to happen we have to engage in dialogue and communicate.?
It is not known if any Israelis are slated to attend the ?Arab Thinking Conference.?