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Columbia University welcomes more than a dozen global leaders, including presidents from Bolivia, Romania, Latvia, Mozambique and Azerbaijan, and six foreign ministers, for its second annual World Leaders Forum, Sept. 20-29. The weeklong series of lectures, symposia and panel discussions is timed to coincide with the fall meeting of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City .
The University-wide initiative reflects Columbia's ongoing commitment to serve as a center of public debate and leadership on global concerns. Students, faculty and invited guests will have an opportunity to hear from leaders about the path toward peace, bilateral relations with the United States, economic development and stability, and the fight against international terrorism. The events were developed in conjunction with Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute.
"We are privileged to bring together a distinguished group of world leaders during the week of the U.N. General Assembly. Our visiting dignitaries this year hail from five continents and represent a range of cultures, economies and political systems," said Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia University. "We look forward to hearing their thoughts on the way the world is evolving and to engaging with them in an open dialogue on a variety of critical global issues."
The forum begins on Monday, Sept. 20, with Joaquim Alberto Chissano, president of Mozambique, addressing the campus community in the afternoon, and CharlesGyude Bryant, chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, speaking in the early evening about the next steps for this war-torn nation, focusing especially on educational issues, redevelopment and reconstruction and plans to prepare for national elections in October 2005.
Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, foreign minister of Poland, will preside over a symposium on the relationship between Poland and the United States, focusing on the long-term alliance between the two nations and Poland's recent support for U.S. policy and intervention in Iraq. At a time when Romania is primed for accession to the European Union, its president, Ion Iliescu, will address the Columbia community about communism, post-communism and democracy.
There also will be a special panel presentation by four women foreign ministers from Estonia, Macedonia, Georgia and Niger, moderated by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and co-sponsored by the Council of Women World Leaders. The panel will explore strategies to eliminate violence and discrimination against women worldwide.
The program includes major addresses from Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert, president of Bolivia; Carolina Barco Isakson, minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia; Surakiart Sathirathai, minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; and Vaira Vike-Freiberga, president of Latvia.
Attendance is by reservation only. A public schedule follows:
World Leaders Forum Events
Public Schedule
Monday, September 20
His Excellency Joaquim Alberto Chissano
President of the Republic of Mozambique
1:30 p.m.
Low Library Rotunda
Monday, September 20
His Excellency Charles Gyude Bryant
Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia
6:30 p.m.
School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
15 th Floor
Tuesday, September 21
His Excellency Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert
President of the Republic of Bolivia
4 p.m.
Low Library Rotunda
Wednesday, September 22
His Excellency Ion Iliescu
President of the Republic of Romania
12 p.m.
Low Library Rotunda
Wednesday, September 22
Symposium: Poland and the U.S. -- A Special Relationship
Keynote address: His Excellency Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland
4 p.m.
School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
15 th Floor
Thursday, September 23
Panel Discussion with Women Leaders
Eliminating Violence and Discrimination Against Women
12:30 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Council of Women World Leaders
Low Library Rotunda
Thursday, September 23
Her Excellency Vaira Vike-Freiberga
President of the Republic of Latvia
3:30 p.m.
Low Library Rotunda
Friday, September 24
His Excellency Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
3 p.m.
Faculty Room, Low Library
Monday, September 27
Her Excellency Carolina Barco
Minster of Foreign Affairs
The Republic of Colombia
10 a.m.
School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA); 15th Floor
Wednesday, September 29
His Excellency Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
12 p.m.
School of International and Public Affairs
15 th Floor
The World Leaders Forum is an annual University event developed in conjunction with the School of International and Public Affairs and the Earth Institute . It reflects President Lee C. Bollinger's vision for Columbia University in the City of New York as a center of public debate, promoting open dialogue and greater understanding of the critical global issues of our time. |
