April 2, 2003

La Salle University's 10th Annual Diplomat-in-Residence Conference To Focus on "Future of Muslim-Christian Relations"

La Salle University's 10th annual Diplomat-in-Residence Conference will focus on an underlying cause of the Middle East conflict, the relationship between Muslims and Christians. The conference will also bring officials from France and Germany who are expected to discuss their nations' opposition to U.S. policy towards Iraq.

The event, daily from April 7th to April 10th, is free and open to the public.

"The Future of Muslim-Christian Relations" will examine the relationship between Greece and Turkey; Muslim-Christian Relations in the Philippines and Indonesia; education and the dialogue of religions; and challenges to European Union (EU) Immigration and Integration after 9/11. One speaker will be the Ven. Palden Gyatso, a Buddhist Monk who was imprisoned for 33 years by the Chinese government in Tibet.

"For our 10th anniversary, we wanted to have a broad array of topics and representatives," said Dr. Cornelia Tsakiridou, a La Salle philosophy professor and the conference director. All events are in the Dunleavy Auditorium at La Salle's Student Union Building, unless noted. For more information, call 215-951-1558. The conference schedule is as follows:

2003 "Diplomat-in-Residence Conference
"THE FUTURE OF MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS"

Monday, April 7, 12:45 pm - 2:30 pm, Dunleavy Room
"The Future of Greek-Turkish Relations"
Moderators: Ms. Svitlana Gorbova, Ms. Ahlam Yassin

Mr. Engin Soysal
First Counselor
Embassy of Turkey

Mr. Vasilis Costis
Political Counselor
Embassy of Greece

Mr. Douglas Hengel
Director, Office of Southeastern European Affairs
United States Department of State

Tuesday, April 8, 12:45 pm - 2:30 pm, Dunleavy Room
"The State of Muslim-Christian Relations in Philippines and Indonesia"
Moderators: Mr. Michael Gallen, Ms. Bethany Cottingham

Minister Evan Garcia
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines

Dr. Vivienne Angeles Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI
Religion Department Visiting Scholar
La Salle University Center for Muslim/Christian Understanding
Georgetown University
Embassy of Indonesia (Invited)

Special lecture
1 pm, Dan Rodden Theatre

The Ven. Palden Gyatso
Imprisoned for 33 years by the Chinese Government in Tibet
Introduction:
Dr. Charles Desnoyers, Chair, History Department
La Salle University

Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Dan Rodden Theatre
"Challenges to Muslim-Christian-Jewish Dialogue"
Moderators: Ms. Maria Lehr, Mr. Christopher Schwartz

Dr. Jaqueline Sfeir The Ven. Palden Gyatso
Dean of Education Imprisoned for 33 years by the Chinese Christian Brothers Bethlehem University Government in Tibet Bethlehem, Israel

Dr. Tarek Mitri Professor Mahmoud Ayoub
Interreligious Relations and Dialogue Team Religion Department
(Christian - Muslim Relations) Temple University
World Council of Churches - Switzerland/Harvard

Rabbi Reuven Firestone
Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam
Hebrew Union College

Thursday, April 10, 12:45 pm - 2:30 pm, Dunleavy Room
"EU Integration, Expansion after Iraq War"
Moderator: Ms. Ludwika Chrzastowska

Ambassador Jean-David Levitte (Invited)
Embassy of France in the United States

Dr. Ralf Horlemann
Political Counselor
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany