AchievementsDuring the four years of the World Public Forum's existence considerable results have been achieved. Annual autumn sessions at Rhodes, which in the beginning were the starting point of all the Forum's events, initiated the formation of an international network of experts. Today we are witnessing the spreading of internal communication among the participants of the network and the strengthening of the coordination of their efforts in the development of the concept of dialogue. Today annual meetings at Rhodes represent the major event in the framework of the World Public Forum. Rhodes today is an open platform for discussions where exchange of experience is taking place and a true spirit of dialogue is developing. In March 2005 on Cuba, after a long period of stagnation in Russian-Cuban relations in the framework of WPF "Dialogue of civilizations" International conference "Latin America in 21 century: universalism and originality" has taken place. The subject of meeting was contemporary situation in Latin America - region that nowadays is undergoing process of civilizational self-determination. Actualization of Latin-American problematic in international context was an important result of the conference. Participants of the conference proclaimed their intention to defend freedom of social choice and multipolarity of world community. In November 2005 participants of World Public Forum joined to annual International Scientific Conference in Havana on psychology and other social sciences "HOMINIS'05" which gathers broad range of participants and traditionally attracts an interest in expert community.
One of the main components of the activities of the World Public Forum is the development of intercultural contacts. And one of the platforms of the strengthening of intercultural dialogue is the 11th International Havana Poetry Festival, which took place in June 2006 on Cuba and gathered more than 100 poets from 28 countries. India - a country with rich culture and ancient history, is one of the active participants of the World Public Forum. The official visit of the delegation of the Center of National Glory of Russia to India in December 2004 is one of speaking examples of this participation. In the framework of the visit has taken place session of roundtable "Russia and India: perspectives and traditions of dialogue in the 21st century". The discussion resulted in a decision about collaboration between the Center of National Glory of Russia and Jawaharlal Nehru University (New-Delhi) in the program "Dialogue of Civilizations". In the framework of the visit there also has taken place presentation of President of India Abdul Kalam's book "Wings of fire" in Russian language, edited in Russia by the Center of National Glory. One of the major directions of World Public Forum's activities is its youth policy. Thus, from 12 to 14 July 2004 in the framework of International Program of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of civilizations" a range of events took place in St.-Petersburg, Kronstadt and on the island of Valaam. In the course of these actions on July 14th in Kronstadt has taken place a solemn ceremony dedicated to the start of the program "Generation 2050". This long-term project is aimed at creation of a better future for Russia, for its spiritual, moral, political, economical and demographical prosperity. And the young generation is responsible for achieving this goal. All the participants of the Forum recognize the leading role of the youth in modern society, therefore in the course of every session of WPF "Dialogue of civilizations" functions the youth panel. At this panel participants discuss the problems of the self-determination of the young generation in the modern world and elaborate perspective directions of its future activities. Youth meetings on the islands of Valaam and Anzer in Russia solve the same problems and the same questions will be discussed at the Youth Educational Forum "Generation in search of Russia" that will take place in August on lake Baikal. A session of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of civilizations" has been held annually since 2003 every autumn on the ancient Greek island of Rhodes. Public leaders and statesmen, representatives of science and culture, the mass media and business worlds and religious figures from different countries all take part in the activities. The experience of three sessions of the "Dialogue of Civilizations" has demonstrated the urgency of conducting the Forum and its efficacy, actualized in the world opinion problems of intercultural dialogue and has drawn its attention at the necessity of elaborating of instruments for the interaction of cultures and civilizations with each other. Results achieved by the Forum give hope for a further harmonization of relations in the world public arena and the strengthening of stability on Earth. Along with its contribution to intercultural dialogue the World Public Forum is actively engaged in the development of economic contacts among different regions of the world. In May 2004 in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, took place International conference "Europe in the 21st century: crossroad of civilizations". At this conference gathered representatives of Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, the USA and other countries. In the course of the conference the ex-Prime-minister of the Czech Republic Milosh Zeeman told that relations between Russia and the European Union in the sphere of economic and culture strongly influence European civilization, and that the European Union has to collaborate with Russia more actively, because its culture is one of the main components of European civilization. Two years later in May 2006 in Prague under the aegis of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of civilizations" has taken place International Congress of industrialists and entrepreneurs "East - West: integration and development". This congress consisted of entrepreneurs from the Czech Republic and Russia. The main goal of this meeting was a discussion of questions of the intensification of economical interrelations between Russia and the European Union and the development of business-relations among representatives of the Russian and Czech business community. An honorary guest of the Congress, Prime-minister of the Czech Republic Jirzi Paroubek, presented the Czech government's strategy of widening of economical cooperation with Russia. The participants of the Congress came to the conclusion that the solving of global questions of the world economy is possible only on the condition that the international business community is keenly conscious of problems in the development of various regions. At the same time the correct formulation of tasks and their consolidation into a single project is a certain pledge of successful economic development in the future. The Middle East direction is an individual branch of the activities of the World Public Forum because this region especially suffers from lack of understanding between cultures and civilizations. In November, 2004 for services in strengthening friendship among nations and his contribution to international antiterrorist efforts President of the Republic of Yemen Ali Abdallah Saleh was awarded with the International Prize of Andrew the First-Called "Dialogue of Civilizations". In May, 2006 in Amman has taken place awarding of king of Jordan Abdallah the Second with the Prize "Dialogue of Civilizations". The Jordanian monarch was honored with this Prize for his outstanding contribution in the strengthening of intercivilizational consent. Among the laureates of the Prize "Dialogue of Civilizations" of the last years there are ex-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Khatami and many other famous statesmen and public figures of Near and Middle East. In the framework of a special section of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" at Rhodes every year broad consultations are held where the participants discuss issues of stability in the region and make recommendations for the practical settling of current problems. Participants of the Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" pay special attention to questions concerning the strengthening of understanding among people in regions suffering from ethnical and religious conflicts and strife. On May 17-18, 2006 in Yerevan (Armenia) the International Conference "Caucasus without conflicts and terrorism. Dialogue of Civilizations at the Caucasian Crossroad" took place. The main subjects of discussion were the problems of settling of ethno-political conflicts, civilizational and geopolitical processes in the Caucasus. Every year with the active collaboration of the World Public Forum on the eve of orthodox Easter is being held an All-Orthodox prayer "Beg for peace in Jerusalem takes place". Millions of believers in Jerusalem, Moscow, Tbilisi, Kiev, Minsk, Belgrade, Prague, Tokyo and other places of our planet pray for conciliation and peace in the Holy land. Participants of the World Public Forum consider the Public peacemaking initiative in Kosovo and Metohia as a very important activity. This program is aimed at the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo, the achievement of adequate status of national minorities in the region and at the struggle against the destruction of historical monuments of Orthodox culture. In the framework of this initiative at the first session of the WPF "Dialogue of Civilizations" has been organized photo-exhibition "The crucified Kosovo" which became one more witness of the necessity of constructing a dialogue of civilizations. The Serbs of Kosovo have received aid from the Foundation of St. Andrew the First Called. In January 2004 the project "Orthodox Christmas in Kosovo and Metohia" was set up and in summer 2004 the Foundation organized the "Children of Kosovo and Metohia" program. In the context of the latter project more than 500 Serbian children have spent a month in sanatoria of Russia. In recent years the Foundation has organized a range of events in support of the Serbs of Kosovo. These projects are aimed at the resolution of the issue of the humanitarian disaster that is taking place in Kosovo.
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