EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

UNITY IN DIVERSITY. REPRESENTING DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, BAHRAIN,GERMANY,SIERRA LEONE, NIGERIA,UNITED KINGDOM,SOUTH AFRICA, KOREA AND GHANA, DELEGATES SHARE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND DELIBERATE ON HOW TO WORK IN UNISON APPRECIATING THAT CULTURAL DIPLOMACY IS MORE OF EXCHANGE MORE THAN TRANSFER.

2013 J U L Y , S P E C I A L E D I T I O N FREE

The three day symposium that commenced on the 10th of July and ended on the 12th of July 2013

attracted a broad spectrum of diplomats,professionals,academia and various heads of Commonwealth bodies and the civil society.

Amongst the institutions and organizations represented included, the British Council, the Commonwealth

Telecommunications Organization,Romanian and Indian

Cultural Institute, South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation and representing the

civil society, the Junior Chamber International. (JCI) As well as Ethics and Values Department of the Nigerian Government.

Mr. Mark C. Donfried, founder and director of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy, underlined the importance

of the symposium with his well

articulated speech on both soft and hard power been integral in cultural diplomacy.

He gave a few classification to cultural diplomacy and defined cultural diplomacy and who can practice it.

He further went to say that the

partnership between the various sectors is key and very vital and emphasized on it been a two way

exchange.

The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy In The UK.

WORKING TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP. SOLITARY HANDSHAKE WITH MARK DONFRIED ON BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BRIDGES TO FOSTER PEACE,FREEDOM AND HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS.

CELEBRATED ACTOR,DIRECTOR AND SINGER, DAVID SOUL SANGEETA BAHADUR,MINISTER OF CULTURE,HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

THE INSPIRER

H.E AMB. EDWARD M. TURRAYHIGH COMMISSIONER OF SIERRA LEONE TO THE UK

The director spoke about classical diplomacy and emphasized positive and negative cultural diplomacy.

Lord William Richard Inglewood, member of the House of Lords, gave a very comprehensive lecture on the role of culture in the foreign policy of the

United Kingdom.

He said that in order to create an open and stable society, its imperative that all

embrace this diversity.

He concluded by saying that you can’t go to any country and expert a

business deal to be brokered without understanding the culture in that country. Its important to understand how things are done there. Culture is

important, it draws people together, but must be well understood in different countries.

Mr. Dorian Branea, director of the Romanian Cultural Center in London explained in detail about the European

Union National Institutes for Culture.

A film screening of Wild Carpathia, preserving the ancient in a contemporary world was very inspiring

and motivational.

Mr. Tim Unwin, broadly spoke on the challenges of cultural diplomacy an

outline in interconnection in post colonial world and enumerated the on the challenges.

Gave a brief highlight on the Commonwealth charter signed by her royal majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in march of 2013.

He Stated that many of those official values are flawed with difficulty. Said that the human right agenda has passed

on more harm than good and argued that democracy serves those in power than poor people. He said that one of

the fundamental things that bind Commonwealth members together is the legal tradition.

Cultural Diplomacy Throughout the Commonwealth of Nations

International Cooperation across Six Continents

LECTURES

LORD WILLIAM R. INGLEWOOD

MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

DORIAN BRANEA,DIRECTOROF THE ROMANIAN CULTURAL CENTER,LONDON.

WITH TIM UNWIN, SEC GEN. OF THE COMMONWEALTH TELECOM ORGANIZATION

THE LATEST GLOBAL TRENDS IN CULTURAL RELATIONS AND THE ROLE OF CULTUER AND EDUCATION IN SOFT POWER AS PRESENTED BY MR. MARTIN DAVIDSON, CEO AND CHAIR OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL. PHOTO BELOW

H.E AMB. WILLIAMS NKURUNZIZA.HIGH COMMISSIONER OF RWANDA TO THE U.K

THE INSPIRER

One of the very important topics discussed in this symposium was the stability of democracy in the

Commonwealth of Nations.

Paa Kwesi Inkumsah, 2011 JCI UN Affairs Commissioner for Africa and the Middle East underlined the

commonality of the Commonwealth of nations. He stated that as Commonwealth nations become

stronger and more democratic,government, free market economy,civil society and globalization

must be work as a four legged stool.

He further went on to say that stabilizing democracy in Africa with priority attention on

education,economic development and social justice is a sure way of ensuring

democratic stability in the Commonwealth. Siting proudly, Ghana as a democratic role model.

Quoting from the JCI principles, he advised governments to be of laws rather than of men and encouraged all to let the brotherhood of man transcend the sovereignty of nations. On behalf of all young people on the African continent and by extension, the 54 Commonwealth nations, he asked for deep reflection “What wealth is common in the Commonwealth of nations?” He concluded his speech by saying that stability is based on openness and engagement with the outside world, where not only the government has relationships with other governments but civil society also engages through public diplomacy with other non governmental

actors in the international community.

Stabilizing Democracy In the Commonwealth of Nations

LET THERE BE PEACE IN BAHRAIN ADVOCATES

DR. NEDAL AL SALMAN

HEAD OF ADVOCACY FOR

BAHRAIN CENTER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS