Middle East Mediterranean Forum

On Friday 8 and Saturday 9 November, the MEM Summit Fourm will take place in Aula magna. The event is open to the public upon registration.

The MEM Forum will host on stage institutional representatives, politicians, academics and intellectuals who will discuss the most relevant issues for the region, ranging from the current geopolitical situation to the role of diplomacy and dialogue in all its forms.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will give a keynote speech during the opening evening of the MEM Forum on Friday 8 November.

Ambassadors Roberto Balzaretti, Thomas Oertle, Monica Schmutz Kirgöz and Florence Tinguely Mattli, who represent Switzerland in the region, will participate in the panel ‘Meet the Swiss Ambassadors in the MENA region’, moderated by Ambassador Wolfgang Amadeus Brülhart.

Roxane Farmanfarmaian, an expert on Iran and the Gulf countries, will take part in the geopolitical panel with other speakers to comment on the current situation and speculate on possible future developments, also in the light of the US election results, discussed by Professor Scott Nelson.

Fernando Gentilini, an experienced diplomat and writer, will take part in the panel on the role of culture in promoting new forms of diplomacy, together with writer Widad Tamimi and diplomat Michael Köhler. Culture is not only a powerful diplomatic tool, but also a key resource for devising innovative solutions to complex global problems.

Maysonn Al-Zoubi, an expert in sustainable water management and water diplomacy, will share her experience at the MEM Forum as an advisor to the Royal Hashemite Court and the Prime Minister's Office of Jordan. With colleagues Natasha Carmi and Jauad El Kharraz, he will discuss water diplomacy and transnational projects involving various actors in the Middle East and North Africa.

Finally, the representatives of the young change-makers will present the results of a reflection and exchange process that started with the drafting of a document entitled Insights for Dialogue during a regional workshop in Cyprus in early October.

More information about the programme are available on the website of the MEM Summit: http://www.mem-summersummit.ch/it/forum. Registration required at this link.