Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARIS4213
2006-06-19 16:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
UNESCO SEMINAR TACKLES ISSUE OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 191630Z Jun 06
UNCLAS PARIS 004213
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KISL MU AORC UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SEMINAR TACKLES ISSUE OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH
THE ARAB WORLD
UNCLAS PARIS 004213
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KISL MU AORC UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SEMINAR TACKLES ISSUE OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH
THE ARAB WORLD
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: At a UNESCO International Seminar entitled
"New Stakes for Intercultural Dialogue" academics, diplomats, and
artists predominantly from Europe and the Arab world discussed
cross-cultural communication, the role of the city in intercultural
dialogue, and the unique experience of the Arab world. While some
participants presented interesting ideas on how to foster
intercultural dialogue, others criticized what they saw as the
West's desire to impose its values on the Arab world. Overall, the
seminar did not generate any broad consensus on intercultural
dialogue. The seminar took place June 6-7, 2006 and was organized
by the Permanent Delegation of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO and
the Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogues,
UNESCO in the framework of the Arabia Plan. The seminar, which had
approximately 100 participants, was part of Omani Cultural Days at
UNESCO, a part of the proclamation of Muscat as the Arab cultural
capital 2006. (Note: Oman currently presides the UNESCO General
Conference.)
2. UNESCO's Arabia Plan is intended "to increase the knowledge of
Arab culture in the world and to encourage greater mutual
understanding between Arab culture and the other cultures, by
promoting dialogue and exchanges." Activities such as these,
thoughtfully organized and targeted to appropriate audiences, can
advance U.S. objectives of countering extremism. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT.
OPTIMISTIC PROPOSALS FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
2. Panelists discussed both how to make intercultural dialogue more
effective, and how "the city" has promoted intercultural dialogue.
One keynote speaker, Arjun Appadurai, of the New School in New York,
contended that in order to find common ground among cultures, we
should not speak of culture or religion as if it had no internal
debate, but rather bring this internal debate into dialogue with
others. To that end, he also pointed out the problems created when
one person claims to speak for an entire group or religion. Mr.
Appadurai, along with several others, strongly criticized Samuel
Huntington's theory of a Clash of Civilizations, arguing that the
theory implicitly stated that intercultural dialogue was impossible.
Mr. Appadurai was the sole panelist from the United States.
3. Several panelists idealized the "city" as a great forum for
intercultural dialogue. Keynote speaker Andr Miquel of the College
de France discussed the city during antiquity and the medieval
times, including Cairo, Baghdad, and cities in Iran and Greece, and
specifically mentioned Baghdad as the "home of culture" for the Arab
world. Another panelist spoke of the need for more local programs
that promote intercultural understanding, citing successes in
Frankfurt and Rotterdam. Another interesting point brought up by
many is that culture is more than words; it is also other forms of
expression such as looks, gestures, and clothing.
PRAISING THE ARAB WORLD AND PROMOTING CULTURAL RELATIVISM
4. A keynote speaker in the session on "The Experience of the Arab
World" argued for a broad notion of cultural relativism, saying that
Europeans are too proud of their human rights and put too much
emphasis on assimilation. Traugott Schoefthaler, director of the
Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (part of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership between the European Union and other
states that border the Mediterranean),said that there is nothing
wrong with maintaining differences, and that the world should adopt
a "common language of differences" just as the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights had been a "common language of values." He also
contended that interfaith dialogue (but not intercultural dialogue)
is virtually impossible. In the ensuing discussion, two
participants from Arab states also criticized what they viewed as
the West's wish to impose its values on the Arab world. Other
participants expressed their support for the conference and noted
the importance of continuing dialogue on these issues.
OLIVER
SIPDIS
FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KISL MU AORC UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO SEMINAR TACKLES ISSUE OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE WITH
THE ARAB WORLD
1. SUMMARY AND COMMENT: At a UNESCO International Seminar entitled
"New Stakes for Intercultural Dialogue" academics, diplomats, and
artists predominantly from Europe and the Arab world discussed
cross-cultural communication, the role of the city in intercultural
dialogue, and the unique experience of the Arab world. While some
participants presented interesting ideas on how to foster
intercultural dialogue, others criticized what they saw as the
West's desire to impose its values on the Arab world. Overall, the
seminar did not generate any broad consensus on intercultural
dialogue. The seminar took place June 6-7, 2006 and was organized
by the Permanent Delegation of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO and
the Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogues,
UNESCO in the framework of the Arabia Plan. The seminar, which had
approximately 100 participants, was part of Omani Cultural Days at
UNESCO, a part of the proclamation of Muscat as the Arab cultural
capital 2006. (Note: Oman currently presides the UNESCO General
Conference.)
2. UNESCO's Arabia Plan is intended "to increase the knowledge of
Arab culture in the world and to encourage greater mutual
understanding between Arab culture and the other cultures, by
promoting dialogue and exchanges." Activities such as these,
thoughtfully organized and targeted to appropriate audiences, can
advance U.S. objectives of countering extremism. END SUMMARY AND
COMMENT.
OPTIMISTIC PROPOSALS FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
2. Panelists discussed both how to make intercultural dialogue more
effective, and how "the city" has promoted intercultural dialogue.
One keynote speaker, Arjun Appadurai, of the New School in New York,
contended that in order to find common ground among cultures, we
should not speak of culture or religion as if it had no internal
debate, but rather bring this internal debate into dialogue with
others. To that end, he also pointed out the problems created when
one person claims to speak for an entire group or religion. Mr.
Appadurai, along with several others, strongly criticized Samuel
Huntington's theory of a Clash of Civilizations, arguing that the
theory implicitly stated that intercultural dialogue was impossible.
Mr. Appadurai was the sole panelist from the United States.
3. Several panelists idealized the "city" as a great forum for
intercultural dialogue. Keynote speaker Andr Miquel of the College
de France discussed the city during antiquity and the medieval
times, including Cairo, Baghdad, and cities in Iran and Greece, and
specifically mentioned Baghdad as the "home of culture" for the Arab
world. Another panelist spoke of the need for more local programs
that promote intercultural understanding, citing successes in
Frankfurt and Rotterdam. Another interesting point brought up by
many is that culture is more than words; it is also other forms of
expression such as looks, gestures, and clothing.
PRAISING THE ARAB WORLD AND PROMOTING CULTURAL RELATIVISM
4. A keynote speaker in the session on "The Experience of the Arab
World" argued for a broad notion of cultural relativism, saying that
Europeans are too proud of their human rights and put too much
emphasis on assimilation. Traugott Schoefthaler, director of the
Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (part of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership between the European Union and other
states that border the Mediterranean),said that there is nothing
wrong with maintaining differences, and that the world should adopt
a "common language of differences" just as the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights had been a "common language of values." He also
contended that interfaith dialogue (but not intercultural dialogue)
is virtually impossible. In the ensuing discussion, two
participants from Arab states also criticized what they viewed as
the West's wish to impose its values on the Arab world. Other
participants expressed their support for the conference and noted
the importance of continuing dialogue on these issues.
OLIVER