Brussels, 22/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Anna Lindh EuroMediterranean Foundation for dialogue between cultures was inaugurated on 20 April in Alexandria: it is the first institution in the Barcelona process established in a country on the south bank of the Mediterranean, and has its headquarters in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina “in tandem with the Swedish Alexandria Institute”, the Luxembourg Presidency indicated in a communication. At the ceremony, Octavie Modert, Luxembourg Secretary of State for Culture, speaking on behalf of the EU, said that the creation of the Foundation, which aims to bring together citizens and civil society organisations throughout the Mediterranean region, was the best tribute to the memory of the former Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Anna Lindh (who was cut down in her prime in the middle of Stockholm). The dialogue between cultures and religions will be an important ally in efforts towards peace and reconciliation in the region, said Ms Modert, pleading: “Let us refute the fallacy of a “clash of civilisations” with the affirmative antithesis of the “alliance of civilisations”, and reaffirm that dialogue is the safest way to prevent conflicts”.
Among those participating in the inauguration were Swedish Foreign Minister Leila Freivalds, Egyptian Culture Minister Rafouk Hosny, the director of the Bibliotheca alexandrina Ismail Erageldin, the executive director of the Foundation Traugott Schöfthaler and the European Commission Director General for external relations Eneko Landaburu.