Iran's former President Khatami forms NGO

LONDON, November 10 (IranMania) - A prominent politician said Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami has formed a non-governmental organization (NGO) to follow up the concept of Dialogue Among Civilizations seriously, according to ISNA.

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former vice president, further said the NGO has opened its secretariat in Tehran and that a branch will be opened in a European city, ISNA reported.

He announced that the First Nationwide Seminar on Dialogue Among Civilizations, held on Wednesday, was attended by 40 intellectuals.

Describing the main objective of the seminar as exchange of views among scholars, he said the participants mainly discussed theoretical issues, ISNA added.

Abtahi, also a prominent member of the pro-reform Assembly of Combatant Clergy, noted that speakers at the seminar expressed their views about the requirements and ways of organizing such a dialogue.

The idea of Dialogue Among Civilizations was first proposed by Khatami at the UN General Assembly in 1998. It met with widespread international reception, following which renowned universities around the world bestowed their highest honorary awards on the moderate cleric.