European and Islamic foreign ministers today began their first joint conference aimed at preventing what the organizers call civilizational clashes. Turkey is hosting this two-day conference, which is attended by representatives from over 70 countries. Ismail Cem, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated that the participants in the Istanbul conference hope to convey a message of peace, coordination, and cooperation to the world. The holding of this conference was first proposed by Mr. Cem following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Many leaders of Islamic countries believe that Europeans and Americans equate Islam with terrorism. It is expected that representatives from these countries will discuss the Middle East peace process and France's proposal regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state during the Istanbul meeting.
Joint Conference to Prevent Civilizational Clashes - 2002-02-13
European and Islamic foreign ministers convened in Istanbul for a conference aimed at preventing civilizational clashes, with over 70 countries represented. The conference, proposed after the September 11 attacks, seeks to promote peace and cooperation amidst concerns of Islam being associated with terrorism. Discussions are expected to focus on the Middle East peace process and Palestinian statehood.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
European and Islamic foreign ministers gathered in Istanbul for a conference aimed at preventing civilizational clashes, focusing on promoting peace and cooperation. The conference was initiated in response to the perception of Islam being linked to terrorism after the September 11 attacks.
- Over 70 countries participated in the conference.
- Discussions included the Middle East peace process and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The concept of civilizational clashes refers to the perceived conflict between different cultural and religious identities, particularly between the West and the Islamic world. This conference seeks to address these concerns through dialogue.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%