ROME
Poverty, the management of water resources, the role of ethics in politics and economics, and cross-cultural integration are among the topics to be discussed at the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates which takes place in Rome from Friday to Sunday.
The summit is considered an important "venue for exchanging opinions and an event promoting international peace campaigns as well as developing concrete proposals to tackle the planet’s emergencies for a world without violence," according to the summit's official website.
The participants are Nobel Peace Prize winners and prominent global figures, who are "active in social, scientific, political and cultural areas."
The summit, which is dedicated to South Africa's legendary leader Nelson Mandela, was originally scheduled to take place in South Africa's Cape Town in October.
However, it was relocated to Rome following the decision of the South African government not to grant Dalai Lama a visa to visit the country -- South Africa is reportedly concerned about its relations with China, which considers the Tibetan spiritual leader a "separatist."
The summit also made news on Thursday when Pope Francis announced his decision not to meet with Dalai Lama in an attempt to improve Beijing-Vatican relations.
Among the 12 participants at this year's summit -- whose theme is "Peace: Living It!" -- are Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the USSR; the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of Tibet; Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, the first black South African Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, as well as a prominent figure in the fight against apartheid in the country; Lech Walesa, former Polish president; and Betty Williams, co-founder of the Northern Ireland Peace Movement.
www.aa.com.tr/en
