A joint rapid response framework to serve the needs of journalists working across the Mediterranean region will be launched in Istanbul on 6 April at the Alliance of Civilizations Forum. The joint initiative will provide user-friendly access to information and expertise in the context of crises with cultural dimensions as well as a support mechanism to bring together international journalists, editor and relevant experts for media dialogue.

The mechanism is being launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation, the European Commission and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In addition, the three organizations will announce the launch of the Mediterranean Journalist Award 2009 and the presentation of their joint work in the field of media.

This event will be part of the Alliance of Civilizations Forum, hosted by the Government of Turkey. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, President of the Government of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Jorge Sampaio, High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations will open the Forum. Heads of Government and over 50 Ministers will participate in the event. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, is expected to be present on the second day of the Forum.

A powerful network of opinion leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth will convene at the Istanbul Forum. The event will also provide new opportunities for policy-makers, funders and grassroots organizations to work together to develop practical projects.

The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid, Spain, in January 2008. Like Madrid, the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes. A number of high-profile initiatives will be presented, including:

• A cluster of Euro-Mediterranean projects aimed at restoring trust and rebuilding bridges in this region, in the wake of the Gaza crisis

• Dialogue Café, a highly innovative technology with a unique application that will allow university students in different cities around the world to engage in intercultural dialogue

• An initial showcasing of the Alliance Fellowship Program to facilitate meaningful exchanges of young leaders from a number of countries and establish working relationships between them

• The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund will outline its future strategy and a range of partnerships including with YouTube, Participant Media, Summit Entertainment and International Creative Management

• The Silatech project, which is using innovative technology and partnerships to connect young people with employment opportunities in the Middle East, will unveil its three-year benchmarks and specific areas of focus

• Plural +, a youth film festival focused on migration themes to be launched in partnership with the International Organization for Migration

• The Global Model United Nations (GMUN) 2010, a world-class student diplomacy training on the theme of the Alliance of Civilizations

• Doing Business in a Multi-cultural World – Challenges and Opportunities, a joint report of the Alliance of Civilizations and the UN Global Compact showcasing a range of best practices and case studies for companies to use in responding to the diversity of today’s business environments

• A unique Marketplace of Ideas session to showcase the most innovative and successful grassroots projects aimed at transcending cultural divides and building peace.

For more information about the Alliance of Civilizations Forum, please visit the official Forum website: www.aocistanbul.org or the Alliance of Civilizations website: www.unaoc.org.

For more information about the Anna Lindh Foundation's activities, please visit: www.euromedalex.org

For information about the Joint Rapid Response Media Mechanism for the Mediterranean Region please contact: Paul Walton, Anna Lindh Foundation (paul.walton@bibalex.org), Thomas McGrath, European Commission (Thomas.mcgrath@ec.europa.eu) or Emmanuel Kattan (tel: +1 917 238 2043; kattan@un.org)