Al-Babtain foundation, IPI combine forces to promote peace

KUWAIT, April 29 (KUNA) -- The Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain's Prize for Poetic Creativity and the International Peace Institute (IPI) signed on Saturday an agreement to promote the culture of peace through a range of joint activities.
The agreement, inked by the Foundation's President Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain and the IPI President Terje Rod-Larsen, includes a five-year agenda of joint action such as symposia and lectures on risk management, building resilience and promoting peace worldwide.
By virtue of the document, the two sides will work together to raise public awareness about the risks of wars and disasters through a preventive approach and in collaboration with the United Nations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is the IPI honorary chair.
Speaking to reporters following the signing ceremony, Al-Babtain said: "The planned activities are expected to gather decision makers, influential public figures, intelligentsia and religious leaders; they are in keeping with the objectives of the foundation that set up a center for dialogue among cultures.
"The foundation is preparing for launching Al-Babtain chairs of peace around the globe. We are optimistic that today's deal will give momentum to the foundation in delivering its message," he said.
"Since its emergence in 1989, the foundation, a non-profit think-tank, has made headway in strengthening its presence in the intellectual activities worldwide," Al-Babrain said, noting that growing numbers of academics and intellectuals believe in "our noble message." He added that today's deal gains additional significance from the fact that it comes at a time when armed conflicts are raging in various parts of the world which require concerted peacebuilding and life-saving efforts.
On his part, Larsen, who began his career as professor of sociology, political science and philosophy at the universities of Bergen and Oslo, voiced joy for signing the deal, saying it will help promote the fruitful cooperation with Al-Babtain foundation.
The foundation enjoys a long experience in organizing cultural activities and publishing that helped promote the culture of peace, tolerance and coexistence, he added. (end) shd.gb