Global Political, Business and Academic Leaders Convene in Berlin to Mark the International Launch of the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute

Berlin (ots/PRNewswire) -

The international think tank Dialogue of Civilizations Research
Institute announces its global launch today, in Berlin.

The Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute
(http://doc-research.org/en/) (DOC) has developed out of the World
Public Forum Dialogue of Civilizations, which over its 15-year
history built up considerable expertise in creating a space for
people from different faiths, backgrounds, and positions, to come
together and work to solve some of the world's most complex problems.

This new Berlin-based non-profit research institute builds on that
experience, harnessing the intellectual power of its extensive
international network of experts, academics and policy makers from
the US, Europe, Russia, India, China and beyond.

With operational centres also planned for Russia and, in due
course, China, the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute
offers international journalists a powerhouse of experts around the
world accessible virtually round the clock. Its activities include
events, original research, expert commentary, and policy advice all
informed by experts and supervisory board members who have both
theoretical and practical experience in a wide array of key areas,
e.g. conflict resolution, global security, origins of migration,
global infrastructure development.

Quotes:

One of DOC's co-founders, business leader, philanthropist and
Doctor of Political Sciences Vladimir Yakunin, said "This is an
important development, filling a very real gap in the current think
tank environment - for an organisation that not only looks worldwide,
but one that combines perspectives from expert communities and
decision makers across today's key geographies. Our fundamental
philosophy is one of mutual respect and understanding. Indeed, it is
only through dialogue rooted in these principles that we will be able
to meet the daunting challenges the humankind now faces."

One of the members of the Supervisory Board of the Dialogue of
Civilizations Research Institute, impact investor and social
entrepreneur, Ruben Vardanyan said, "At a time of increased
international instability and tensions, it is vital for people to be
able to come together in a mutually-respectful setting, to work
towards finding solutions that can be of real benefit and use to
policy-makers and international organisations. Investing in this
initiative amounts to investing in the common future of humanity -
humanity as we want to see it, the world we want to live in. I am
confident the DOC is set to play an important role in the global
think tank community, which is why I am pleased to be supporting it."

"With the opening of its Berlin office, Dialogue of Civilizations
is making an important transition from platform to agent of change. I
have seen change falter, and then win through. I know from personal
experience how hard this journey - of effecting fundamental change in
the world around us - can be. I am confident that the DOC will, in
this new format, continue to play a powerful role in building a
fairer, more humane, world," said Vaclav Klaus, Supervisory Board
Member and former Czech President.

"The Berlin office will provide the research institute with a home
in the heart of Europe, a continent that has seen its fair share of
division over the decades. Once Berlin was the very nerve centre of a
divided Germany, a divided Europe, a divided world. Now, thankfully,
those days are behind us. What we see today in Berlin is a city that
has overcome division - through dialogue. Dialogue has always played
a crucial role in international affairs. And that is what makes it
the natural home for this new think tank", said Manfred Stolpe,
former German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing and
former Minister President of Brandenburg.

Background info for the media:

About the Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute

Rooted in a tradition of seeking dialogue-based solutions to
humankind's most pressing issues, Dialogue of Civilizations Research
Institute (Dialogue of Civilizations, DOC) builds on the World Public
Forum Dialogue of Civilizations' expertise, bringing together global
thought leaders from academia, public policy, business and civil
society to debate and develop practice-based policy advice.

On 9 November 2001, following an initiative by Iranian leader
Mohammad Khatami, UNESCO Member States unanimously adopted the UNESCO
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the UN General
Assembly presented its Global Agenda for Dialogue Among
Civilisations, setting out the principles of intercultural dialogue
to be defended and objectives to be achieved. The Dialogue of
Civilizations emerged as a practical endeavour to implement this
initiative.

In 2002, Dialogue of Civilizations was co-founded by Indian
entrepreneur and visionary Jagdish Kapur, and Dr Vladimir Yakunin,
business leader, philanthropist and Doctor of Political Sciences, as
well as by the American businessman of Greek origin, Nicholas F.S.
Papanicolaou.

In its 15-year history, Dialogue of Civilizations has held over
100 seminars, roundtables, and lectures. It has organised over 30
regional conferences in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and hosts the
annual Rhodes Forum - an event that brings together experts from
across the globe to address some of the most complex issues facing
humanity.

Dialogue of Civilizations has published over 15 books, provides
online courses in Dialogue of Civilizations, and has launched the
educational initiative Schools of the Dialogue of Cultures.

Since 2013 it has enjoyed UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Special Consultative Status, and also collaborates with UNESCO.

http://doc-research.org/en/

ots Originaltext: Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Olga Vnukovskaya
Tel: +79851119009
Email: OVnukovskaya@doc-research.org