Abu Dhabi, Apr. 8th, 2007 (WAM)---In the spirit of engagementand mutual respect, Zayed House for Islamic Culture (United ArabEmirates) and Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies(Scotland-UK) have organized the 2007 International AcademicSymposium on 'Multiculturalism and Cultural Engagement: Mappingan Agenda for the Twenty-First Century', on Sunday 8 April 2007at Emirates Palace (Abu Dhabi).

The Symposium was opened today morning by UAE Minister of HigherEducation and Scientific Research Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak AlNahyan.

In his opening speech, Sheikh Nahyan stressed that the diversityand pluralism of the UAE population provide the necessary foundationfor the concept of global community and peaceful co-living inthe context of diverse different cultures and traditions.

"Islam had established multiculturalism and interactionamong civilizations through promoting tolerance and mutual respectfor differences", he said.

"Universal values of democracy, peace, human rights and the ruleof law are aspirations that get boost from history and Islamictraditions."He called for giving up religious and cultural interpretationsof the gap between the West and Islam.

Sheikh Nahyan called for finding new ways of thinking and formobilizing the media to play a constructive role in correctingmutual wrong perceptions between Muslims and the West. He furthercalled for creating proper opportunities to promote interactionbetween people through the use of modern communication technologiesand booting understanding and dialogue.

Among the prominent speakers at the gathering was Lord Elder,Chancellor of Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies,Al Badi Al Dhaheri, Member of the Board of Trustees of ZayedHouse for Islamic Culture.

Five prominent scholars and intellectuals presented papers onthe following topics:"Multiculturalism and Cultural Engagement in the Twenty-FirstCentury.

"Islamicjerusalem as a Model for Peaceful Co-existence, CulturalEngagement, and Multiculturalism.

"Education in Multicultural States: UAE as an Example"How to Bridge the Trenches amongst Cultures, with special focuson the relation between Islam and the West.

"The Challenges of Multiculturalism.

Following their intellectual discussions of these distinguishedpapers, the delegates of the Symposium have agreed to make thefollowing declaration of our common ground, and shared valuesand goals:ABU DHABI DECLARATION FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT1.Multiculturalism not only requires a toleration of others,it also necessitates finding ways of mutual cooperation and culturalengagement between communities and individuals at all levelsof society. It is both concerned with the mutual acceptance of,and mutual respect for difference and the requirement for commonground.

2.The differences between our cultural and religious backgroundsare what give strength and importance to our communities, andthe different cultural lenses that we each bring add to the pursuitof our common goal.

3.We share a common aim to build bridges, to provide a meetingpoint between the Muslim and Western worlds of learning, andto encourage scholarship, academic co-operation, and culturalengagement at this crucial time.

4.We seek to work towards cultural engagement at all levels,within both academic and community contexts, and between religionsand cultures, and also within and between religious and culturalcommunities.

5. The Arab Muslim history provides us with several examplesof peaceful co-existence between peoples, religions and cultures.

'Umar's Assurance of Safety and the central principle of Islamicjerusalemprovide a key model for multiculturalism, cultural engagement,and mutual understanding and respect. Indeed, Islamicjerusalemgives us a model of a common space in which people from differentbackgrounds can live together in a centre in which diversityand pluralism thrive.

6.We have to work at all levels to break down the barriers thatseparate and divide the contemporary world, particularly in theareas of cultural engagement and education.

7.To improve understanding between people we need to promotecultural engagement that will see people acknowledging and respectingtheir differences, but be willing to work together in peacefulco-existence.

8.Multicultural education is the key means to defeat fundamentalismand extremism and will contribute to the achievement of commonground and space, mutual respect, and peaceful co-existence betweenand within people, nations, religions, and cultures.

9.We recognize the need to develop Islamic Studies at highereducation level, to address the needs of our local and internationalsocieties, and to prepare our graduates to take their place indeveloping their society.

10.To develop Islamic Studies in the twenty-first century andenhance cultural engagement and constructive dialogue, universitiesin both Muslim and Western countries should ensure that the teachingof Islamic Studies should be in both Arabic and English languages(should go hand-in-hand).

11.The call for this new agenda for cultural engagement througheducation is timely and necessary, particularly to prevent themisguided and narrow interpretation of Islam, which is the sourceof so many problems in our societies.

As a conclusion of the Symposium, the delegates have agreed towork together to achieve a practical step, which is the establishmentof an academic and cultural institute in the Arab Muslim world,which seeks to enhance two-way traffic between and within people,cultures, and religions. This institute will lay the foundationsfor the new agenda for cultural engagement through higher education.

The mission of this institute should be:"to educate the next generation of scholars and practitioners,locally, regionally and internationally, to enable them to facethe challenges and opportunities of a diverse and multiculturalsociety and world in the twenty-first century,"to be a research-led centre of excellence, to promote intelligentdebate and understanding on cultural engagement and Islam andthe role of Muslims in the contemporary world,"to generate an atmosphere in which constructive dialogue andengagement will take place rather than a clash.

Zayed House for Islamic Culture recommend that such a newly instituteshould be created in the United Arab Emirates, in particular,in Abu Dhabi, as a place of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

In conclusion, the delegates are most grateful to, HH ShaikhKhalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,and to HH General Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, CrownPrince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE ArmedForces, for their support for this international academic symposium.