AMMAN
– HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global
(TAG.Global), has participated as a keynote speaker at the ‘International
Conference on Promoting Peace, Coexistence, and Community Belonging’, organized
by the Knights of Peace Society. The Conference was held under the patronage of
HE Eng. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Department of Civil
Aviation in Ras Al Khaimah.

The
Conference convened with the participation of representatives from the United
Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon,
Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan, in the presence of a number of Guests of Honor,
including, Shaikha Mariam Bint Hamad Al Khalifa from Bahrain, and Dr. Essam
Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt.

In
his keynote address, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh extended his thanks to Dr. Amin Abu
Hijleh, head of the Society and president of the Conference, for his kind
invitation to the event, which focuses on promoting peace, coexistence and
community belonging, stressing that peace cannot exist without justice.

He
further pointed out that he has urged in many UN meetings to modify the term
"call for peace" to become "call for just peace", since
peace will only prevail through justice, coexistence and a harmonious society.

Concerning
community service, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh indicated that during his co-chairmanship with former UN Secretary General Mr.
Kofi Annan, he worked on drafting the UN Global Compact; which is a universal
initiative rallying around ten principles. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh urged for
incorporating such principles into school curriculum so that students would
learn from an early age about their role and social responsibility towards
their community and homeland.

For
his part, Dr. Abu Hijleh
expressed his thanks and gratitude to Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh and the Guests of Honor,
stating that it is time to intensify efforts and join hands to spread peace.

It is worth mentioning that the participants
discussed 30 working papers on media, crisis management, community peace, and
other topics.