Visit to Albania – 2 -5 September 2012

Congress President to focus on the role of young people in the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue

Strasbourg, 3 September 2012 – Congress President Keith Whitmore is participating in a Council of Europe Exchange of Views on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, taking place from 2 to 6 September in Durres (Albania).  Organised as part of the Albanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, the Exchange’s main theme centres on “Taking responsibility for tomorrow’s Europe: the role of young people in the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue”.  This is of particular interest to the Congress because it brings together two major components of its work – that of intercultural dialogue and of engaging young people in democracy.  As well as the Congress, the debate will also feature contributions from the President of the Conference of INGOs, Jean-Marie Heydt, and the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.  Speaking at the opening of the event, President Whitmore said, “I am convinced that working together with young people is an essential basis for any effort to pass on to them democratic values. So often we hear that young people are the future of our societies. However, what is far more important is that they are young people today and they must be allowed to live their lives and participate in society now.”

In addition, President Whitmore will also attend the Remembrance of the Holocaust ceremony in Tirana, giving a speech in the presence of the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, on 5 September 2012.