June 2, 2009: An international conference on the theme "Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultural Diversity" is kicking off Tuesday in the Tunisian capital.The conference is being organized by The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). More than 100 intellectuals from over 20 countries will take part in the 3-day event. The conference will be articulated around three main topics: namely, review of the situation of the dialogue of civilizations and cultural diversity; dialogue preconditions and channels; as well as international cooperation and sound mechanisms for a sustained dialogue favoring respect for cultural diversity.

Held as part of the celebration of Kairouan as 2009 Islamic culture capital in the Arab region, the conference aims to stimulate dialogue between civilizations, firmly establish cultural diversity, bring into light the interrelation between the dialogue of civilizations and cultural diversity, and frame a new policy of international cooperation towards dialogue of civilizations and the respect for cultural diversity.