History
Rhodes ForumDuring the ten years of its existence, the Forum has achieved some important, tangible results. The annual autumn session on the island of Rhodes, site of the first of the World Public Forum’s events, has contributed to the formation of an international network of experts. This network continues to grow and coordinate a multitude of activities focused on promoting the idea of dialogue. The annual meetings at Rhodes represent a major event for the WPF and continue to present an open platform for discussions, where experience is exchanged and the true spirit of dialogue is developed.
Every autumn since 2003 the ancient Greek island of Rhodes has hosted a session of the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations” called the Rhodes Forum. This annual meeting brings together public figures and statesmen, academics, religious figures and representatives of the arts, mass media and business spheres from all over the world. The sessions of the Rhodes Forum have proved the urgency, importance, and efficacy of the WPF’s ideals by bringing the focus of world public opinion to bear on the need for inter-cultural and inter-civilizational dialogue. The results achieved by the Forum thus far provide hope for further harmonization of international relations and promotion of global stability.
The participants of the Forum's programs and of the Rhodes Forum believe that constructive dialogue among cultures and civilizations is quite possible. According to Vladimir Yakunin, the World Public Forum operates in an international atmosphere that seems to suggest that quite the opposite is the case, but meeting at the Forum's events, the representatives of different civilizations have reaffirmed that beyond the political sphere, a dialogue on the level of civil society is not only desirable and necessary, but it is also practically possible.
“Now the logic of the Forum's development has led us to the need of making this dialogue more substantial. Dialogue of Civilizations is called upon to develop a new culture of international partnership, co-operation and interaction. It has to foster new values and bring in new goals for the international community.” — WPF Founding President Vladimir Yakunin.
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